Kontrarian Korner

Ben Kelleran
  • 4.1 (24)
  • Investing
  • Updated Weekly

Conversations on Investments, Finance, Macroeconomics, and Current Events https://www.kontrariankorner.com www.kontrariankorner.com

  1. 16h ago

    Kontrarian Korner #158 - Mark Mitchell

    Yesterday I had Mark Mitchell of The Honest Poll back on the podcast to discuss the upcoming midterms, current events, and the ongoing civil war inside the conservative establishment. He laid out his polls and research on what he expects for the midterms, and why it won’t be pretty for Republicans, along with his thoughts on institutional decay, the generational divide when it comes to politics and economic policy, and why we could get an American Caesar in the next decade. Mark is a very entertaining follow on Twitter, but you can also find him on YouTube and on Substack. Podcast Summary * Why the conservative establishment is losing younger generations and why socialist policies are increasingly popular. * The concept of patronage and why Republicans only offer empty platitudes. * How capitalism has turned into corporatism and regulatory capture. * The demographic shift that is underway, and how it will result in changing attitudes on economic policy, Israel, and the political environment. * The pros and cons of the changing media and information environment. * How social media and other factors drive a divide between men and women. * Why he thinks Americans are ready for the sacrifices it will take to fix the country, and why he’s hopeful that we will see politicians that are straight shooters. * Economic populism being a driving force behind politics in coming years, on both the right and the left. * What the polls actually say leading up to the midterms, and why it’s too late for Trump to pull a rabbit out of the hat. * The potential for an American Caesar, and why we can’t plan for that scenario. * Book Recommendation: Burn It Down by Rich Baris & Joshua Lisec. Kontrarian Korner is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.kontrariankorner.com/subscribe

    Kontrarian Korner #158 - Mark Mitchell

  2. 2d ago

    Kontrarian Korner #157 - Dr. Jeremy Heffner & E.M. Burlingame

    On Friday I had Dr. Jeremy Heffner and E.M. Burlingame on the podcast for another great conversation. It was the perfect follow up to our first conversation, and we got into the broken medical and insurance world, the different medications like birth control and SSRIs that have had a dramatic impact on men and women over the last several decades, and other philosophical questions that the West will have to face in coming years. You can find Jeremy on Twitter, and his book on his website, Proof Of The Impossible, and on Linkedin. You can find E.M.’s Substack below, but he’s also worth a follow on Twitter. Podcast Summary * How healthcare has evolved from a patient care delivery system to a business model, where the insurance companies and the providers (often private equity owned) fight over the money. * Why nobody knows the actual price of procedures or medications. * Why Jeremy thinks that it’s not fixable without taking it down to the studs, and why the ethical and moral codes would be the foundation if he was starting from scratch. * How the layers of bureaucracy have led to a massive increase in administrative staff that has made things impossible. * Why we shouldn’t send everyone to college, and how there is a better way for society to allocate talent. * The problem with worshipping at the altar of GDP instead of focusing on human flourishing. * How birth control and SSRIs have altered the brain chemistry and hormone profiles of men and women. * How women have a different hierarchy than men, and how they are able to maintain networks of relationships. * The problem with egalitarianism and the blank slate. * The side effects of doing away with nobility and aristocracy. * Why things move in cycles and why we won’t know how this cycle turns out for at least another decade. * Book Recommendations: The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial Of Human Nature by Steven Pinker & The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. Kontrarian Korner is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.kontrariankorner.com/subscribe

    Kontrarian Korner #157 - Dr. Jeremy Heffner & E.M. Burlingame

  3. 5d ago

    Kontrarian Korner #156 - Ron Dodson

    Yesterday I had Ronald Dodson back on the podcast to talk about current events, the conservative movement, and the setup for the midterms. We covered everything from the potential for a blue versus red Caesar, the shift to a multipolar world order, and why we could be in the early stages of World War III. If you’re interested in geopolitics or the state of the American right, you will enjoy this one. Ron publishes on The American Mind for the Claremont Institute, but you can also find him on Twitter and on Substack. Podcast Summary * Bo French and the debate around the University of Texas system and who it is for. * The problem with establishment conservatives and why they haven’t been able to conserve anything. * Vivek’s chances in Ohio, and the messages that politicians actually hear. * Why a blue Caesar is unlikely, and why he’s worried about an “infrared Caesar”. * Why we could be watching the early stages of World War III. * The shift towards a multipolar world order, and how changes in technology have dramatically reduced the power projection of aircraft carriers. * Europe’s predicament if Russia, China, and Iran group up. * How rates and inflation impact the average American. * Why you couldn’t get the US population to buy into a draft. * The setup for the midterms, and why he’s watching to see if Trump can pull a rabbit out of the hat over the next month. * Book Recommendation: After The Flight 93 Election by Michael Anton & Memorabilia by Xenophon. Kontrarian Korner is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.kontrariankorner.com/subscribe

    Kontrarian Korner #156 - Ron Dodson

  4. Sep 30

    Kontrarian Korner #155 - Mike Green

    Yesterday I had Mike Green on the podcast for the first time. We talked about how passive investing has changed financial markets, specifically how these changes have started to play a bigger role in bond markets. He also laid out how 3x levered ETFs and other forms of leverage (Situational Awareness) have exaggerated moves in financial markets. From there we detoured into wealth concentration, the need for political change, and why he thinks we are probably headed for a more authoritarian future. This was a great conversation, and if you somehow haven’t come across Mike’s work, you can find him on Twitter, Substack, and the Tier 1 Alpha website. Podcast Summary * How we switched the financial system to favor passive investing two decades ago. * How a market cap weighted bond index favors bonds trading at a premium vs. bonds trading at a discount, and how it makes them pro-cyclical to interest rates. * 3x levered ETFs, and why it’s important to understand the endogenous flow and the volatility drag associated with levered ETFs. * The changes from a defined benefit system to a defined contribution system in the 1970s, along with the Pension Protection Act in 2006, and how it contributed to the wealth concentration and lower cost of capital for the largest companies. * Why the path out for younger generations is political change. * The affordability of real estate and what it means for younger generations and the ability to have kids. * The importance of investing in technology, and why he thinks we will see lab-grown food become more ubiquitous. * Why the political system is probably headed for authoritarianism, and why generational turnover is going to lead to political change. * Book Recommendations: The Foundation Series by Isaac Asimov. Kontrarian Korner is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.kontrariankorner.com/subscribe

    Kontrarian Korner #155 - Mike Green

  5. Sep 29

    The CIA Files - Part 21

    Yesterday the Colonel was back for Part 21 of the CIA Files. We got to the second half of talking about the attack on the USS Liberty, specifically what happened after the attack. She explained why it was obviously intentional and how the cover-up went to the highest levels of the government, and why they still won’t open up the files. We also added some additional color on the attack itself, but if you want to dig into one of the most important false flags in US history, you will enjoy this one. You can find the Colonel on Twitter, Rumble, YouTube, and Substack. If you want to get in better shape and support the podcast at the same time, check out Axios Fitness. J.D. is offering a free 2 week trial, so take it for a spin and tell him I sent you. Kontrarian Korner is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.kontrariankorner.com/subscribe

    The CIA Files - Part 21

  6. Sep 23

    Kontrarian Korner #154 - LTC Steven Murray

    Yesterday I had LTC Steven Murray on the podcast for the first time. We talked about current events in the Middle East and how it ties in with diesel and jet fuel, the American Empire’s focus on the Western Hemisphere, the pros and cons of AI, and where we are in the Fourth Turning. We bounced around on a bunch of topics, but if you want current events with a couple of rabbit holes, you will enjoy this one. You can find Steve on Substack, Rumble, YouTube, and Twitter. If you want to get in better shape and support the podcast at the same time, check out Axios Fitness. J.D. is offering a free 2 week trial, so take it for a spin and tell him I sent you. Podcast Summary * The situation in the Middle East, how it connects with Ukraine, and how diesel and jet fuel factor into the calculus. * Why he thinks Trump’s recent move with Greenland is a strategic one. * The continued focus of the American empire on the Western Hemisphere, and how Cuba and Panama are countries to watch moving forward. * Why the Oreshnik missile is a game changer. * Why Poland is the country to watch in Europe, and how Canada is signaling as far as their ties to Europe. * The current state of the Fourth Turning, and why we will see systems be rebuilt and fail again before being rebuilt the right way. * Changes on the horizon over the next decade for the medical and pharmaceutical industries. * The return to community, spirituality, and the grassroots health movement. * How the US and previous empires have all used drugs and human trafficking to feed their economies. * AI and the potential for a small business boom, and how the current players are trying to create their own regulatory capture mechanism. * The importance of understanding history. * Book Recommendations: The Pentagon’s Brain by Annie Jacobsen & Pawns In The Game by William Carr. Kontrarian Korner is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.kontrariankorner.com/subscribe

    Kontrarian Korner #154 - LTC Steven Murray

  7. Sep 22

    The CIA Files - Part 20

    Yesterday the Colonel was back on for Part 20 of the CIA Files. This week we covered the USS Liberty and some of the lesser known details around the event. The Colonel laid out some of the different connections and information technology of the era, the different actors involved in the attack, and the US response that goes straight to the highest levels of the government at the time. Next week we will be covering the aftermath of the attack on the USS Liberty. You can find the Colonel on Twitter, Rumble, YouTube, and Substack. If you want to get in better shape and support the podcast at the same time, check out Axios Fitness. J.D. is offering a free 2 week trial, so take it for a spin and tell him I sent you. Kontrarian Korner is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.kontrariankorner.com/subscribe

    The CIA Files - Part 20

  8. Sep 21

    Kontrarian Korner #153 - Dexter White

    On Thursday I had Dexter White back on the podcast. We talked about recent developments in the AI space and his view on regulation and the tech leaders driving the bus on AI. We also covered how Effective Altruism skews the worldview of some of these tech leaders, and some of the economic distortions that come from our parasitic financial system. He also talked briefly about the recent Fed decision and some of the other current events, but this was a great conversation for anyone that wants a more measured take on artificial intelligence. You can find Dexter on Twitter and at Gold Goats n’ Guns. If you want to get in better shape and support the podcast at the same time, check out Axios Fitness. J.D. is offering a free 2 week trial, so take it for a spin and tell him I sent you. Podcast Summary * His thoughts on the recent Fed decision, and how diesel and other inputs are going to flow into inflation. * The roots of different Middle Eastern conflicts over the last several decades. * The AI companies and the recent talk about needing regulation, and how it could lead to a cartel. * Data centers and the different sources of the pushback against the AI buildout. * How many parts of our markets are parasitic and disconnected from reality as far as valuations. * Why the US should have a strategic metals reserve. * His opinion that on premises AI and open source models. * The insanity of Effective Altruism, and how it skews the worldview of some of the tech leaders. * Why he isn’t worried about LLMs, but is worried about the potential for organoid systems and an accretive AI. * How the US has an economic system that has evolved to regulatory capitalism in certain sectors. * Book Recommendation: Player Piano by Kurt Vonnegut. Kontrarian Korner is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.kontrariankorner.com/subscribe

    Kontrarian Korner #153 - Dexter White
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About

Conversations on Investments, Finance, Macroeconomics, and Current Events https://www.kontrariankorner.com www.kontrariankorner.com

Information

  • Creator
    Ben Kelleran
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    212
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Kontrarian Korner
  • Show Website
    Kontrarian Korner

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