Best Ray Keating Podcasts (2025)

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Dark Squares: Danny Rensch on Chess, Cults, and Finding Purpose 2:01:18

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2d ago2:01:18

2:01:18

A Note from James This might be the most insane chess story I’ve ever heard—not even really a chess story, but a cult story. It’s wild, intense, and ultimately inspiring. Danny Rensch grew up in a cult in Arizona. At just 10 years old, the cult leader noticed his chess ability, took him away from his parents, and he wouldn’t see his mother again fo…

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Finding Connection in a Divided World with 'Super Communicator' Charles Duhigg 41:04

6d ago41:04

41:04

A Note from James I’m really concerned about the level of discourse in this country. It’s almost a cliché to say that now, but especially after the Charlie Kirk assassination, the division feels overwhelming. I even got invited to speak at the Oxford Union—the most prestigious debate society in the world—but ultimately declined because I didn’t lik…

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Inside the Cartel: The Longest Undercover FBI Operation with Martin Suarez and Ian Frisch 59:30

9d ago59:30

59:30

A Note from James This is a crazy story. Martin Suarez holds the record for the longest continuous undercover assignment in FBI history. He went undercover as a cartel drug lord—smuggling billions of dollars’ worth of cocaine while posing as “Manny.” At one point, the story even starts with a gun to his head, convinced his cover was blown. The book…

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[Bonus] Brian Keating on Humility, Chutzpah, and the Arrow of Time 18:39

14d ago18:39

18:39

Episode Description Right after wrapping up their main conversation, James and Brian hit record again for a bonus session. What came out is an unfiltered talk on humility, arrogance, and the strange mix of traits needed to achieve great things. From the wisdom of the Talmud to the Dunning–Kruger effect, they explore why even Nobel Prize winners wre…

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How to Focus Like a Nobel Prize Winner with Prof. Brian Keating 1:13:13

15d ago1:13:13

1:13:13

Episode Description James sits down once again with cosmologist Brian Keating—longtime friend of the show and author of Into the Impossible: Focus Like a Nobel Prize Winner. In this candid conversation, they challenge each other’s views on focus, curiosity, and the trade-offs of staying in your lane. Brian shares behind-the-scenes lessons from inte…

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From Deep Blue to Bittensor — Why Subnets Are the Next Internet Boom 1:27:49

17d ago1:27:49

1:27:49

A Note from James I’ve been on and off writing. From 2004 to 2021, I wrote one to two books a year, without fail. Since then, nothing. But I’ve been working on an idea: obsession. When I’m not obsessed, I can’t do much—sometimes not even the basics. But when I am obsessed, I can turn that energy into real outcomes: a business, a book, a skill, some…

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Rick Harrison: The Pawn Business, Hidden Histories, and the Best Model in Banking 31:51

22d ago31:51

31:51

A Note from James The man, the myth, the legend—Rick Harrison. You know him as the star of Pawn Stars, the reality show based on the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas. The show has been running for over 21 seasons, and Rick himself has become the godfather of the pawn business. I even joined Rick and Chumlee on their own podcast, Pawn After Dark…

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From Zero to World-Class: Tristan de Montebello on the Art of Public Speaking 1:56:00

28d ago1:56:00

1:56:00

A Note from James I’m honored to have today’s guest: Tristan de Montebello, a finalist in the World Championship of Public Speaking. He also co-founded UltraSpeaking (ultraspeaking.com/james), where he teaches techniques to improve communication through games and real-world practice. We even played some of those games during this episode, and they …

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Astro Teller on Moonshots, Self-Driving Cars, and the Future of Innovation 1:02:00

1M ago1:02:00

1:02:00

A Note from James What does it take to make a discovery that changes the world? Think about landing on the moon — a true moonshot. Along the way, countless technologies were invented that reshaped life back on Earth. My guest today, Astro Teller, has been part of that same kind of world-changing work. At X — Alphabet’s Moonshot Factory — he’s led p…

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Matt Smith: Rethinking College with “The Preparation” 1:02:39

1M ago1:02:39

1:02:39

A Note from James There’s always been debate about whether college is worth it. But what if there’s a better alternative—one that actually prepares you to become the person you want to be? My good friend Matt Smith just wrote a book with Doug Casey called The Preparation. It’s not theory—he’s been putting his own son through it as a real-world expe…

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Case Kenny: Stop “Settling Down” and Start “Settling Up” 40:33

1M ago40:33

40:33

Episode Description James sits down with Case Kenny, author of The Opposite of Settling and host of New Mindset, Who Dis?, to talk about how our expectations around relationships shape the way we date and commit. Case shares the research, stories, and mindset shifts that helped him go from avoiding commitment in his twenties to finding fulfillment …

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Will Bittensor be Bigger than Bitcoin? | The TAO Pod 1:26:48

2M ago1:26:48

1:26:48

Episode Description: Hosted by James Altucher (serial entrepreneur, bestselling author of "Choose Yourself," podcaster, hedge fund manager, chess master, and investor in over 20 companies, with expertise in crypto and AI) and Joseph Jacks (founder and general partner of OSS Capital, the world's first VC firm dedicated to commercial open-source soft…

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$100K Scam Story: How to Spot Con Artists with Johnathan Walton's Red Flags 1:17:42

2M ago1:17:42

1:17:42

A Note from James: "Anatomy of a Con Artist. The 14 red flags to spot scammers, grifters, and thieves". This is a book—an amazing book—by Johnathan Walton. Check out his podcast Queen of the Con, and his new one Cocaine Air. We talk about both in this episode. But his book, Anatomy of a Con Artist, is just dead on. Johnathan shares how he got conne…

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Bitcoin, Ethereum, and AI: James Altucher on Smart Humans with Slava Rubin 55:14

2M ago55:14

55:14

A Note from James: I was honored to be on the Smart Humans Podcast. I’m a big fan of the show, and I was happy they asked me on—especially since I got to talk about things I don’t usually cover here. We discussed my specific predictions for investments like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tau, and stablecoin-related tokens like Curve and Aave. We also explored …

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Stoicism with Ryan Holiday - Part 2 42:41

2M ago42:41

42:41

A Note from James: We kept recording because the conversation wasn’t done. Part 1 was about writing and honesty. Part 2? It’s about consequences—what happens when people believe their own hype, when we confuse being loud with being right, and when storytelling gets weaponized. Ryan Holiday has written about ego, stillness, and obstacles. But this p…

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Revolutionizing Home Comfort: Keating Kuhn on Clean Air and Smarter HVAC Solutions 23:58

2M ago23:58

23:58

BlueCollar.CEO – Keating Kuhn is the Co-founder of Gold Eagle Services, a leading HVAC and indoor air quality company creating healthier and more energy-efficient homes. With over 11 years of experience in the industry, Keating specializes in advanced mold remediation techniques like Pure Maintenance dry fogging and is passionate about sustainable …

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Stoicism with Ryan Holiday - Part 1 42:01

2M ago42:01

42:01

A Note from James: Ryan Holiday is one of the few writers I consider a peer—not just because of the work he’s done, but because of the choices he's made along the way. We’ve both published a lot of books. We've both dealt with audiences, platforms, and the weight of having a “point of view” in a world that increasingly wants you to pick a side. Thi…

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Episode #269: Foundations of Economic Policymaking, Part II – Policy Levers 4:57

2M ago4:57

4:57

Contrary to trying to fine-tune an economy, policy levers are about providing a foundation for growth. Consider books by Ray Keating… • Order Ray Keating’s “Weekly Economist” books at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C3JDVYLX?binding=paperback&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbk • Get Ray Keating’s Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries at https://www.amazo…

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Crazy Finance: Episode 2 - Is College Still Worth It? 27:19

2M ago27:19

27:19

A Note from James: When I first said that college was a scam, people thought I was joking—or worse. But I wasn’t. If you’re 18 and listening to this, don’t go to college. And if you’re a parent, don’t send your kid without doing the math. College doesn’t guarantee a better life anymore. In fact, it could cost you years of freedom, tens of thousands…

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From One Truck to $12M: How Dustin Smith Built a Plumbing Empire in Memphis 37:54

2M ago37:54

37:54

BlueCollar.CEO – Dustin Smith is the Owner of Smith’s Plumbing Services, which specializes in residential plumbing services and installation. He also founded 901 Gives, a nonprofit organization that supports local initiatives by providing meals, sponsoring educational events, and assisting families in need. Recognized for his leadership and dedicat…

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Crazy Finance: Episode 1 – Why Buying a House Might Be the Worst Financial Decision 25:52

2M ago25:52

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A Note from James: Owning a home has been sold to us as the American dream. But what if it's actually a financial nightmare? In this episode, I talk with my friend Doug Hill about why I think buying a house is a bad idea—not just a little bad, but one of the worst investments you can make. Doug and I disagree on some points, and that's the fun part…

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Episode #268: Foundations of Economic Policymaking, Part I – Fine-Tuning 4:27

2M ago4:27

4:27

Ray considers the idea that politicians and government bureaucrats are wise enough to fine-tune the entire economy, and makes clear that it is economic nonsense. Consider books by Ray Keating… • Order Ray Keating’s “Weekly Economist” books at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C3JDVYLX?binding=paperback&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbk • Get Ray Keating’s Pastor…

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How This Plumbing Company Went From $0 to $7 Million in 11 Months 37:46

2M ago37:46

37:46

BlueCollar.CEO – Patrick Fee is the Co-founder of Mr. Drain Plumbing, a top-rated local plumber. With over 25 years of experience in the plumbing industry, he began his career in engineering before working as a Regional Manager at Rooter Hero Plumbing & Air. In today’s episode, Ryan and Patrick talk about how Mr. Drain Plumbing grew to $7 million i…

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Michelin Stars, Tragedy, and the Discipline to Be Great | Chef Curtis Duffy 1:00:15

3M ago1:00:15

1:00:15

A Note from James: So Chef Curtis Duffy—he’s won Michelin Stars, a James Beard Award. He’s been on Netflix’s Iron Chef, was a judge on Top Chef season 21, and he’s even shown up in The Bear. He runs the Chicago restaurants Ever and Grace, and he wrote this incredible memoir called Fireproof: Memoir of a Chef. I could list all the accolades, but wha…

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Episode #267: Polls and Economics: Free Trade vs. Protectionism 4:18

3M ago4:18

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Ray notes the benefits of free trade, the negatives of protectionism, and is cautiously pleased with the result of a recent poll on the topic. Consider books by Ray Keating… • Order Ray Keating’s “Weekly Economist” books at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C3JDVYLX?binding=paperback&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbk • Get Ray Keating’s Pastor Stephen Grant thri…

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How UFC Champion Miesha Tate Overcame Rock Bottom with a Resilient Mindset 1:15:39

3M ago1:15:39

1:15:39

A Note from James: Miesha Tate—at first, I’ve got to admit, I didn’t know much about UFC or MMA. But Miesha was the World Bantamweight Champion, and she fought Ronda Rousey—probably the most famous female fighter in the sport. I watched one of their fights, and honestly, I don’t know how I’d survive even a quarter of a second. But the conversation …

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How This 3rd Generation Business Is Growing To 9 Figures With Matthew Stock 27:04

3M ago27:04

27:04

BlueCollar.CEO – Matthew Stock is the Owner and CEO of U.S. Waterproofing, a third-generation, family-owned company. Under his leadership, the company has become a leading provider of basement waterproofing and foundation repair services in the Midwest. In 2022, Matthew oversaw a strategic partnership with Rotunda Capital Partners to support the co…

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Episode #266: Polls and Economics: Regulation 3:14

3M ago3:14

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Ray looks at a Gallup poll on regulation. Do Americans think the amount of regulation is too much, just right or too little, and how influenced are they by politics rather than economics? Consider books by Ray Keating… • Order Ray Keating’s “Weekly Economist” books at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C3JDVYLX?binding=paperback&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbk …

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How To Grow Your Business Past $3 Million With Paul Olsen 39:47

3M ago39:47

39:47

BlueCollar.CEO – Paul Olsen is the CEO of Koala Cooling, a home services company. He previously served as a Master Plumber. Before Koala Cooling, Paul held plumbing roles at various companies, including 1st Home and Commercial Services and ABC Home & Commercial Services. In this episode, Paul and Ryan talk about the importance of processes and smar…

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The Secret of Dave Barry’s Humor: Class Clown Memoir and Florida Tales 49:58

3M ago49:58

49:58

A Note from James: One of the funniest guys I’ve ever spoken to—Dave Barry. I always love talking to him. He’s been America’s top humorist since the early ’80s with a syndicated column in 500 newspapers and a long list of bestselling books. This is his third time on the podcast, and his latest book, Class Clown: Memoirs of a Professional Wiseass, i…