The hosts discuss Trump’s perceived leniency towards Vladimir Putin regarding our nation’s cybersecurity and resolving the war in Ukraine. They also examine Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s suitability for the Senate or the presidency. The show concludes with Dr. Monica Vermani, one of Canada’s highest-rated clinical psychologists, who talks about her latest book, A Deeper Wellness, and guides readers on how to achieve authentic wellness.

The hosts discuss Trump&rsquo;s perceived leniency towards Vladimir Putin regarding our nation&rsquo;s cybersecurity and resolving the war in Ukraine. They also examine Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez&rsquo;s suitability for the Senate or the presidency. The show concludes with&nbsp;<a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.drmonicavermani.com_&amp;d=DwMF-g&amp;c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&amp;r=VjLVqDp760rtbFjmvN9KBC4Q3Wzyzl7V5ax9o24L5A0&amp;m=vGKYBcbGshUV9mS5XQRhuZMLmsB7MO8H_k3sD7bVn432K4LS57Ze-rDFKCq_UbXH&amp;s=cZNueACfVkwUJPjM3eRAN03yUHH9JHAEP9t-AWQNmwM&amp;e=" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="4">Dr. Monica Vermani</a>, one of Canada&rsquo;s highest-rated clinical psychologists, who talks about her latest book,&nbsp;<a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.book.adeeperwellness.com_&amp;d=DwMF-g&amp;c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&amp;r=VjLVqDp760rtbFjmvN9KBC4Q3Wzyzl7V5ax9o24L5A0&amp;m=vGKYBcbGshUV9mS5XQRhuZMLmsB7MO8H_k3sD7bVn432K4LS57Ze-rDFKCq_UbXH&amp;s=kMvodNPUpFIglPlgrQOXngNG1NbHM5FU0lG6qA-DWrE&amp;e=" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="5">A Deeper Wellness</a>, and guides readers on how to achieve authentic wellness.

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 2: Is Trump Kowtowing to Putin?; Should AOC Run for Higher Office?; Interview with Dr. Monica Vermani

In our second hour, the hosts dig into Francesca Hong’s narrow loss in Wisconsin’s August 11 Democratic primary for governor. The democratic socialist led the polls, but Bernie Sanders and AOC stayed out, old statements on Thanksgiving, policing, and prisons came roaring back, and David Crowley pulled the upset. We track the progressive fractures, the establishment’s relief, and the bigger fight over candidate quality versus ideology in a real swing state. The show wraps with an interview featuring Christian Briggs, Economist & CEO of Hard Asset Management, Inc., a specialist in rare coins and precious metals with nearly 40 years of experience advising individuals and family offices on undervalued hard assets. Briggs explains why hard assets matter now—as a tangible store of value that can protect wealth against inflation, currency debasement, and market volatility when paper assets and digital currencies face growing uncertainty.

In our second hour, the hosts dig into Francesca Hong&rsquo;s narrow loss in Wisconsin&rsquo;s August 11 Democratic primary for governor. The democratic socialist led the polls, but Bernie Sanders and AOC stayed out, old statements on Thanksgiving, policing, and prisons came roaring back, and David Crowley pulled the upset. We track the progressive fractures, the establishment&rsquo;s relief, and the bigger fight over candidate quality versus ideology in a real swing state. The show wraps with an interview featuring&nbsp;<a href="https://bmcham.com/pages/trading-expertise-leadership" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://bmcham.com/pages/trading-expertise-leadership&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1787610468701000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3ixCOUnTEFA-l1gAcbOiGc">Christian Briggs</a>, Economist &amp; CEO of&nbsp;<a href="https://bmcham.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://bmcham.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1787610468701000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2truq8QAHXn55yAMYpK6jT">Hard Asset Management, Inc</a>., a specialist in rare coins and precious metals with nearly 40 years of experience advising individuals and family offices on undervalued hard assets. Briggs explains why hard assets matter now&mdash;as a tangible store of value that can protect wealth against inflation, currency debasement, and market volatility when paper assets and digital currencies face growing uncertainty.

Hour 2: Hong’s Progressive Upset in Wisconsin | Christian Briggs on Hard Assets

Episode 111 examines how two former NBA players’ declarations for the 2027 WNBA Draft have forced the league to confront its undefined eligibility rules and the broader clash between inclusion and sex-based competition. It also tracks the escalating responses—from Sophie Cunningham’s comments to the WNBPA’s refusal to be “political pawns”—as the WNBA faces a defining question about what the word “women” legally and competitively means. The show then shifts to an interview with Michael LeBlanc, a decorated Marine Corps major, Harvard Business School graduate, and entrepreneur who co-founded defense robotics company Foundation Future Industries after 13 years of service that included multiple Middle East deployments. In What If Anger Is the Answer?: A Harvard Marine’s Guide to Shaping Aggression, he argues that anger is not a flaw to suppress but a force that can be trained and channeled into courage, leadership, and purpose. Drawing on combat experience, ancient Greek philosophy, and Silicon Valley lessons, the book offers a practical framework for turning aggression into strength.

Episode&nbsp;111 examines how two former NBA players&rsquo; declarations for the 2027 WNBA Draft have forced the league to confront its undefined eligibility rules and the broader clash between inclusion and sex-based competition. It also tracks the escalating responses&mdash;from Sophie Cunningham&rsquo;s comments to the WNBPA&rsquo;s refusal to be &ldquo;political pawns&rdquo;&mdash;as the WNBA faces a defining question about what the word &ldquo;women&rdquo; legally and competitively means. The show then shifts to an interview with&nbsp;<a href="https://officialmikeleblanc.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://officialmikeleblanc.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1787610468701000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0mam9qtyvO_5O1j5AjbhIr">Michael LeBlanc</a>, a decorated Marine Corps major, Harvard Business School graduate, and entrepreneur who co-founded defense robotics company Foundation Future Industries after 13 years of service that included multiple Middle East deployments.&nbsp;<a href="https://a.co/d/06zuhKFf" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://a.co/d/06zuhKFf&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1787610468701000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3gv3WiVN5EO1Jn8DTpX0YZ">In&nbsp;What If Anger Is the Answer?: A Harvard Marine&rsquo;s Guide to Shaping Aggression</a>, he argues that anger is not a flaw to suppress but a force that can be trained and channeled into courage, leadership, and purpose. Drawing on combat experience, ancient Greek philosophy, and Silicon Valley lessons, the book offers a practical framework for turning aggression into strength.

Hour 1: NBA Vets Declare for the WNBA Draft | Michael LeBlanc on What If Anger Is the Answer?

In our second hour we examine the record-breaking success of Spider-Man: Brand New Day and how its story of a forgotten, isolated hero illuminates loneliness in modern life. Drawing on insights from Surgeon General Vivek Murthy and psychologist Pauline Boss, we explore why this emotionally resonant superhero tale has connected so powerfully with audiences worldwide. The show closes with an interview featuring Dr. Mark Evans, a composer, conductor, author, and founder of the Cultural Conservation foundation. Based in North Carolina, he hosts the television program Mark! My Words and has written definitive books on film scoring (including Soundtrack: The Music of the Movies) as well as cultural renewal. Through his foundation, he works to preserve America’s cultural heritage—music, language, history, and the arts—with the same care devoted to natural resources, promoting self-education to counter cultural decline.

In our second hour we examine the record-breaking success of Spider-Man: Brand New Day and how its story of a forgotten, isolated hero illuminates loneliness in modern life. Drawing on insights from Surgeon General Vivek Murthy and psychologist Pauline Boss, we explore why this emotionally resonant superhero tale has connected so powerfully with audiences worldwide. The show closes with an interview featuring&nbsp;<a href="https://www.culturalconservation.org/press/about-mark-evans/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.culturalconservation.org/press/about-mark-evans/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1787007773199000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2jHFEUmRDuA_BXeIzZTEi6">Dr. Mark Evans</a>, a composer, conductor, author, and founder of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.culturalconservation.org/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.culturalconservation.org/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1787007773199000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0oATFdJzSoiZFpoaI2hULi">Cultural Conservation</a>&nbsp;foundation. Based in North Carolina, he hosts the television program Mark! My Words and has written definitive books on film scoring (including&nbsp;<a href="https://a.co/d/08KAjrX0" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://a.co/d/08KAjrX0&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1787007773199000&amp;usg=AOvVaw07hP1iKf3lLaTIo0P3leHz">Soundtrack: The Music of the Movies</a>) as well as cultural renewal. Through his foundation, he works to preserve America&rsquo;s cultural heritage&mdash;music, language, history, and the arts&mdash;with the same care devoted to natural resources, promoting self-education to counter cultural decline.

Hour 2: Is Trump Kowtowing to Putin?; Should AOC Run for Higher Office?; Interview with Dr. Monica Vermani

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