Kontrarian Korner

Ben Kelleran
  • 4.5 (17)
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Conversations on Investments, Finance, Macroeconomics, and Current Events https://www.kontrariankorner.com www.kontrariankorner.com

  1. Kontrarian Korner #98 - E.M. Burlingame

    1D AGO

    Kontrarian Korner #98 - E.M. Burlingame

    Yesterday I had E.M. Burlingame on the podcast to get his perspective on what is going on in the Middle East. We talked about why he thinks there is a method to the madness in Iran, why the level of the S&P is a matter of national security, and the other chaos nodes around the world. We also covered the long term future for the US and the problems that we need to address with the economy, the population, and the political system. You can find EM on Substack and on Twitter. Podcast Summary * The method to the madness in the Middle East and why Trump is injecting chaos into the geopolitical chessboard. * How the financial system is built on algorithms that factor in centuries of risk modeling, and the controlled volatility creation we are seeing. * Why the S&P being elevated (and rising) is a matter of national security. * The problems facing Europe as far as the production of commodities and energy, and the problems they have as far as immigration. * What the US has to do to rewire the financial system and flush out the corruption and fraud, and why it starts at the local level. * Why we need to stop using GDP as a measure of success, and why 100 million people need to be sent back. * Why there is no incentive for the bureaucracy to enforce laws on the books and remove people from the country. * How a rewiring of the economic system to real production will naturally fix the relationship between men and women, and why 90% of women’s jobs are make work. * Why we need to nuke the healthcare and food industry, and why we need to make the Sherman Antitrust Act great again. * The chaos agents in Venezuela and Iran, and the other points of interest with the Strait of Malacca and Cuba that will probably be solved diplomatically. * Why Somalia and Canada are two other potential chaos nodes to watch. * The problem with the Trump administration’s messaging on recent events. * Book Recommendation: As Rome Burns by E.M. Burlingame (his first fiction novel). 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

    59 min
  2. Kontrarian Korner #97 - Colonel Towner-Watkins

    2D AGO

    Kontrarian Korner #97 - Colonel Towner-Watkins

    Yesterday I had Colonel Towner-Watkins on the podcast for the first time. She’s an expert on the history of the intelligence agencies and the international syndicate that has been shaping world events in the Post World War II era. We got into the recent events in the Middle East, how they are connected to the different factions that have been operating internationally for decades, and the illicit funding mechanisms of the intelligence agencies. You can find the Colonel on Twitter and on Rumble. Podcast Summary * The shaping and control mechanisms used by the intelligence agencies in the post World War II era. * How borders were drawn in the post World War II era to set up chaos nodes in the Middle East and Asia with the formation of Israel, Pakistan, and Formosa (Taiwan). * How the opium and cocaine trade was used as a funding mechanism for the intelligence agencies and the international syndicate. * How the large international corporations benefited from different operations and coups run by the intelligence agencies. * Why it was crucial to take Maduro alive during the Venezuela operation, and how he has extensive knowledge of this system. * The factions in Iran, the chaos node in Israel, and how the recent events in the Middle East show that Trump is targeting those outposts for the international syndicate. * How the intelligence agencies are interconnected, and how different “terrorist groups and regimes” were funded by Israel and other parts of the international syndicate. * How large insurance companies have become intelligence fronts, at least in part. * Lloyd’s of London, how they benefit from the implicit US guarantee of global shipping lanes, and their influence on maritime insurance as a piece on the geopolitical chessboard. * The reasoning behind the Strait of Hormuz blockade, and why Europe will cry uncle first due to their deindustrialization and lack of energy production. * Why the system always needs a boogeyman. That was the Soviet Union until the 90s, and now the boogeyman in the Middle East is Iran. * How the timing of the fentanyl explosion ties into the timing of pulling out of Afghanistan. * Where all of the recent events lead for the US, Europe, and the Middle East, and the back channel communications that have probably been going on with Russia and China. * DOGE, USAID, the National Endowment for Democracy, and targeting the NGO network of institutions and foundations. * Why you will need to see some significant movement in the next three months as far as arrests in order to avoid a wipeout in the midterms. * Book Recommendations: Operation Gladio: The Unholy Alliance Between the Vatican, the CIA, and the Mafia by Paul Williams, and NATO’s Secret Armies: Operation GLADIO and Terrorism in Western Europe by Daniele Ganser. 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

    1h 22m
  3. Kontrarian Korner #96 - Melody Wright

    3D AGO

    Kontrarian Korner #96 - Melody Wright

    Yesterday I had Melody Wright back on the podcast to talk about real estate, societal changes, and the media environment, among other things. We also took a couple detours into topics like AI and offshoring, the generational divide, and demographics. It was a fun conversation where we got into current events and talked about the slow moving Titanic that is the real estate market, but we also talked about some of the big picture problems facing the US and what we can do to fix them. You can find Melody and her work on her Substack as well as on Twitter. Podcast Summary * The 30,000 foot view of residential real estate, and why new homes are cheaper than existing homes today. * Affordability issues, interest rates, and what shrinking transaction volumes mean for the next couple years in the market. * Building inventories, migration trends, demographics, fertility rates, and other trends that will play a part in the real estate market. * The generational divide, median incomes, and why housing is more unaffordable than it has ever been. * Reality TV politics when it comes to immigration and deportations. * How society has changed since the 70s as more women entered the workforce, along with several other factors that lead to changes on the culture. * Why the recent wave of layoffs that is attributed to AI has more to do with offshoring after a wave of overhiring. * Why the current media environment is a double edged sword when it comes to changing narratives, but also the pervasive propaganda environment that we are in. * Book Recommendation: The Price Of Time by Edward Chancellor. 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

    1h 10m
  4. Kontrarian Korner #95 - Rudy Havenstein & Robert (Infranomics)

    5D AGO

    Kontrarian Korner #95 - Rudy Havenstein & Robert (Infranomics)

    On Friday afternoon I had Rudy Havenstein and Robert from Infranomics on the podcast. We talked about recent events in the Middle East and the disruptions that are coming, the political situation and midterms, and why the Fed is stuck between a rock and a hard place. I thought the most interesting part of the conversation was the back and forth on the political system. I wasn’t able to convince Rudy that the US should have a monarchy, but we all agreed that the system is very broken today. You can find Rudy’s Substack below, and he’s a must follow on Twitter. You can find Robert’s work on Twitter as well as his YouTube channel. Podcast Summary * How the recent events will feed into supply chains, inflation, and the complacency in financial markets. * The political interference with financial markets, and the pattern of jawboning the markets. * Why the Fed is stuck between a rock and a hard place, and why all roads lead to the big print. * Why they aren’t surprised by the effectiveness of the Iranian resistance and why Rudy thinks this could be a rerun of the Iraq war. * The problem with the mainstream media environment and the propaganda environment on social media. * How the midterm elections might turn out after the recent adventure in Iran and that abandonment of most of Trump’s campaign agenda. * Anarchotyranny, frontier justice, and fix it politics. * The push to reindustrialize the US and undoing some of the side effects of hyperfinancialization. * The potential for a completely different political system, and why the system can’t be reformed through the system. * The pros and cons of monarchy versus the current system. * Book Recommendation: Sinister Forces by Peter Levenda. 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

    1h 42m
  5. Kontrarian Korner #94 - John Polomny

    APR 9

    Kontrarian Korner #94 - John Polomny

    Yesterday I had John Polomny back on the podcast to talk about where he sees opportunities in financial markets and how recent events in the Middle East play a part in where those opportunities are. We also talked about some of the changes the US needs to make, why they will be difficult if not impossible, and several other topics. You can find John’s Substack below, but you can also find him on Twitter, and his weekly market updates on YouTube are a must watch. Podcast Summary * The supposed ceasefire in the Middle East, and the unavoidable supply chain disruptions that are already baked into the cake with recent events in the Strait of Hormuz. * Why he has unwound some of his energy exposure over the last couple days, and why agricultural commodities are an opportunity. * Adding to some of his positions in precious metals, why it’s a buying opportunity, and the long term secular drivers for gold in particular. * The series of events that he would have to see to be convinced that the US has control over the Strait of Hormuz. * Why the Fed is stuck between a rock and a hard place, and the only two choices are the big print (yield curve control) and letting rates rise. * The problems with US industrial policy and why it will take longer than most people think to course correct. * Why the US won’t exist in its current form in 10-15 years and the soft secession that is already happening. * Opportunities in emerging markets, base metals, and other places to look for potential investment. * Book Recommendation: How To Be Rich by J. Paul Getty. 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

    1 hr
  6. Kontrarian Korner #93 - Dexter White

    APR 8

    Kontrarian Korner #93 - Dexter White

    Yesterday I had Dexter White on the podcast as the perfect follow up to Tom Luongo on Monday. This was before the ceasefire, so we will see how that plays out and how markets react. We talked about the Strait of Hormuz and other international choke points, some of the nuances of AI and the media environment, and the national security importance of the great power competition with China. For anyone interested in a look at some of the most important topics facing the US right now, this one is worth a listen. You can find Dexter on Twitter and at Gold Goats n’ Guns. Podcast Summary * The situation with the Strait of Hormuz, what it means for the US, and the various supply chains that are impacted by it. * The nuances that are involved with the situation in Iran, and the lack of second and third order thinking from different media personalities. * The legal problems facing Netanyahu, and why Israel has influence, but they aren’t the only driving force behind the recent operations in Iran. * Why the US approach to China’s access to energy is a matter of national security. * The different islands in play in the Strait of Hormuz, from Qeshm and other islands in the narrowest part of the channel, and why he wouldn’t be surprised to see US Marines taking Qeshm, Hormuz, Larac, and the other small islands. * The importance of Kharg Island farther north, and why the US has to cut off the flow to reorder the political situation in Iran. * Why the US is targeting different international choke points, and how other countries have benefited from our role as guarantor of global shipping lanes. * The AI spending and the brute force approach of the LLM models that make it more power and data hungry than they need to be. * Why we won’t get AGI until you start working with neural tissue chip arrays. * The potential for data centers to be used for a digital control grid. * Why the waves of layoffs are not driven as much by AI and it’s more driven by the middle management bloat that has built up in the system over the last several decades. * The problems with the hyperfinancialized economy and globalization, how this was tied into the push towards egalitarianism, and the return to a reality based economy. * How the media environment shapes and pushes different narratives. * Where things lead with China, and why the US needs to address supply chain deficiencies rapidly because we are behind on that front. * Canada, why each province is a colonial exploitation zone, and the future of Alberta and Quebec. * Book Recommendation: On War by Carl von Clausewitz. 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

    1h 38m
  7. Kontrarian Korner #92 - Tom Luongo

    APR 7

    Kontrarian Korner #92 - Tom Luongo

    Yesterday I had Tom Luongo back on the podcast to talk about all of the chaos going on in the world. Instead of getting tied up in day to day events, I wanted to pull on the threads of the big picture in our conversation. He thinks that we are near the end of a cycle that has been building for centuries, a fourth turning of a fourth turning if you will. Right now, we are seeing the return of power politics, the rewiring of the flow of money around the world, and the end of the rules based order. For anyone that needs some food for thought on these big picture topics, this one’s for you. You can find Tom on Twitter and his podcast at Gold, Goats n’ Guns. Podcast Summary * The 30,000 foot view of the situation in the Middle East, and why it will rewire the flow of money around the world. * The return of power politics and the end of the “rules based order”. * Why there are no coincidences in geopolitics, and the win conditions for the US in the Middle East. * The power the City of London has over global trade with controls of the levers of insurance, forex, and the Brent oil contract. * The consequences of what has happened so far in the Middle East and what comes next. * Why we will see the old petrodollar system change into a different version after the Iran conflict comes to a resolution. * The future of NATO, Europe, their economy, and why the European powers are chomping at the bit to go to war with Ukraine. * Why he thinks the consensus on Republicans getting blown out in the midterm will be wrong. * A key date to watch: April 28, when the King of England comes to the US to address Congress. * Book Recommendation: Foundation 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

    1h 57m
  8. Kontrarian Korner #91 - Tommy Carrigan

    APR 2

    Kontrarian Korner #91 - Tommy Carrigan

    Yesterday morning I had Tommy Carrigan on the podcast for the first time. I was on his podcast a while back and it was time to return the favor. We talked about current events, the changing media environment and what it means for future psyops, and how new technology could lead to an age of abundance or something a lot worse. It was a fun conversation and a change of pace from focusing exclusively on current events and markets, and if you enjoy going down rabbit holes and talking conspiracies, you will enjoy this one. You can find Tommy’s Podcast on all the podcast platforms, and he’s definitely an entertaining follow on Twitter (when he’s not banned). Podcast Summary * His experience during COVID, and being one of the first to have doctors like Robert Malone and Peter McCullough on his podcast. * The situation in the Middle East, his problems with putting boots on the ground, and the parallels to the Global War On Terror. * The difference in the generational point of view when it comes to current events and media. * How current events and changes in the Overton Window are either a long-term psyop or an emergent phenomenon. * How psyops and conspiracies have a shorter shelf life today compared to a couple decades ago. * The modern day Operation Mockingbird equivalent that is happening on social media and podcasts. * Changes in technology, why we could see power that is too cheap to meter, and the future of AI, and where that leads over the next couple years and for future decades. * Book Recommendations: Base Nation by David Vine & The Generals Have No Clothes by Will Arkin. 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

    1h 16m
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4.5
out of 5
17 Ratings

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
    128
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Kontrarian Korner
  • Show Website
    Kontrarian Korner

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