Episode #61 examines the controversy surrounding President Trump’s $200 million, privately funded White House ballroom, raising questions about the optics of opulence amid deepening political and economic divides. The hosts explore whether such grandeur aligns with empathetic leadership in a fractured era. The episode concludes with Dr. Akli Adjaoute — AI entrepreneur and founder of Exponion — discussing his book Inside AI and the future of artificial intelligence in business and society.

Episode #61 examines the controversy surrounding President Trump&rsquo;s $200 million, privately funded White House ballroom, raising questions about the optics of opulence amid deepening political and economic divides. The hosts explore whether such grandeur aligns with empathetic leadership in a fractured era. The episode concludes with&nbsp;<a href="https://cognitix.com/why-cognitix-management-team/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Dr. Akli Adjaoute</a>&nbsp;&mdash; AI entrepreneur and founder of Exponion &mdash; discussing his book&nbsp;<a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Akli-Adjaoute/219938959" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1">Inside AI</a>&nbsp;and the future of artificial intelligence in business and society.

Tune in each week, as an established lawyer, and a self- proclaimed “man of the people,” debate some of the hottest issues impacting our city, state and nation. 

Tune in each week, as an established lawyer, and a self- proclaimed &ldquo;man of the people,&rdquo; debate some of the hottest issues impacting our city, state and nation.&nbsp;

Shake It Off with Mert & Lucas Live

Tune in each week, as an established lawyer, and a self- proclaimed “man of the people,” debate some of the hottest issues impacting our city, state and nation.

Hour 1: Legacy or Luxury? Adding a 90,000‑Square‑Foot Ballroom to the White House.  Interview with Dr. Akli Adjaoute on the Future of Artificial Intelligence.

Our second hour begins with a sharp, fact‑driven examination of election integrity — from Trump’s declassified claims and Secretary Mullin’s warnings to polling that shows polarized national trust but consistently strong confidence in local election officials. The hosts break down expert reactions, documented fraud rates, and shifting GOP voter loyalty, revealing a republic grappling with vulnerabilities, perception, and turnout intensity.  The show then wraps with Leslie Lee Sanders, author of Ready to Listen?, who shares the personal journey behind her spiritual self-help memoir and the lessons it offers on reclaiming one’s inner voice, trusting intuition, and navigating conflict and connection. Her conversation brings a thoughtful, human close centered on the book’s themes of listening, self-discovery, and renewed purpose.

Our second hour begins with a sharp, fact‑driven examination of election integrity &mdash; from Trump&rsquo;s declassified claims and Secretary Mullin&rsquo;s warnings to polling that shows polarized national trust but consistently strong confidence in local election officials. The hosts break down expert reactions, documented fraud rates, and shifting GOP voter loyalty, revealing a republic grappling with vulnerabilities, perception, and turnout intensity.&nbsp; The show then wraps with&nbsp;<a href="https://llsanders.com/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="2">Leslie Lee Sanders</a>, author of&nbsp;<a href="https://llsanders.com/books/ready-to-listen-a-spiritual-self-help-memoir-leslie-lee-sanders/B0G2GP3Q29" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="3">Ready to Listen?</a>, who shares the personal journey behind her spiritual self-help memoir and the lessons it offers on reclaiming one&rsquo;s inner voice, trusting intuition, and navigating conflict and connection. Her conversation brings a thoughtful, human close centered on the book&rsquo;s themes of listening, self-discovery, and renewed purpose.

Hour 2: Election Integrity & Voter Trust | Leslie Lee Sanders on Listening, Intuition & Connection

Episode 107 opens with a hard look at the Democratic Party’s accelerating shift toward socialism — driven by Zohran Mamdani’s New York City victory and a platform built on wealth taxes, expanded government control, and deep structural overhaul — despite blunt warnings from Trump, Vance, Manchin, and other national figures. The hosts trace the causes behind this surge and argue that the movement threatens the American Dream by replacing merit and opportunity with rationing, envy, and bureaucratic power.  The hour then turns to Steve & Dr. Kathy Boyls, authors of I’VE BEEN TO HEAVEN, who share their extraordinary story and the insights that shaped their new book. Together, they bring a powerful, personal perspective that shifts the conversation from politics to faith, hope, and lived experience.

Episode 107 opens with a hard look at the Democratic Party&rsquo;s accelerating shift toward socialism &mdash; driven by Zohran Mamdani&rsquo;s New York City victory and a platform built on wealth taxes, expanded government control, and deep structural overhaul &mdash; despite blunt warnings from Trump, Vance, Manchin, and other national figures. The hosts trace the causes behind this surge and argue that the movement threatens the American Dream by replacing merit and opportunity with rationing, envy, and bureaucratic power.&nbsp; The hour then turns to&nbsp;<a href="https://steveandkathyb.com/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Steve &amp; Dr. Kathy Boyls</a>, authors of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ive-Been-Heaven-Supernatural-Near-Death/dp/B0FRK3XDZT/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1">I&rsquo;VE BEEN TO HEAVEN</a>, who share their extraordinary story and the insights that shaped their new book. Together, they bring a powerful, personal perspective that shifts the conversation from politics to faith, hope, and lived experience.

Hour 1: Socialism’s Surge & the American Dream | Steve & Dr. Kathy Boyls on I’ve Been to Heaven

In our second hour the hosts examine the decision by Turkey and Egypt to bar the LGBTQ+ chartered cruise ship Scarlet Lady from their ports, tracing the incident across four fault lines: the cynical use of religious doctrine as political cover, the deafening silence of a U.S. government that funds Egypt and arms Turkey through NATO, the civil rights dimensions of identity-based exclusion of eleven hundred American citizens, and the deepest irony of all — that the very community turned away at sea has been among the loudest defenders of Muslim civil rights on American soil. The show then wraps with an interview with Alicia Scovill, retired U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant, President and owner of Scovill Construction & Contracting Services, LLC, and a passionate veterans advocate and keynote speaker who works to build veteran-friendly workplaces and stronger support systems for those who have served our country.

In our second hour the hosts examine the decision by Turkey and Egypt to bar the LGBTQ+ chartered cruise ship Scarlet Lady from their ports, tracing the incident across four fault lines: the cynical use of religious doctrine as political cover, the deafening silence of a U.S. government that funds Egypt and arms Turkey through NATO, the civil rights dimensions of identity-based exclusion of eleven hundred American citizens, and the deepest irony of all &mdash; that the very community turned away at sea has been among the loudest defenders of Muslim civil rights on American soil. The show then wraps with an interview with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicia-scovill-reduces-risk/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="2">Alicia Scovill</a>, retired U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant, President and owner of&nbsp;<a href="https://scovillccs.com/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="3">Scovill Construction &amp; Contracting Services, LLC</a>, and a passionate veterans advocate and keynote speaker who works to build veteran-friendly workplaces and stronger support systems for those who have served our country.

Hour 1: Legacy or Luxury? Adding a 90,000‑Square‑Foot Ballroom to the White House. Interview with Dr. Akli Adjaoute on the Future of Artificial Intelligence.

In 1 playlist(s)

Shake It Off with Mert & Lucas Live

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips