The team discusses Pope Leo XIV’s installation and the challenges he faces, including the Vatican’s financial instability, scrutiny over his past handling of abuse allegations, and his approach to Church unity. The show concludes with Mark Gogolewski, author of How to Be OK (When You're Supposed to Be OK But You're Not), a look at men’s mental health, addiction, and finding strength in vulnerability. 

The team discusses Pope Leo XIV&rsquo;s installation and the challenges he faces, including the Vatican&rsquo;s financial instability, scrutiny over his past handling of abuse allegations, and his approach to Church unity. The show concludes with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.markgogolewski.com/" data-auth="NotApplicable">Mark Gogolewski</a>, author of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.markgogolewski.com/book" data-auth="NotApplicable">How to Be OK (When You're Supposed to Be OK But You're Not)</a>, a look at men&rsquo;s mental health, addiction, and finding strength in vulnerability.&nbsp;

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: The Trials and Tribulations Awaiting the Holy Father; Interview with Mark Gogolewski 

The hour opens with an examination of the explosive rise in disability accommodations on college campuses — especially elite ones — where registration rates have surged to levels with “no historical parallel,” driven largely by mental‑health diagnoses and easier access to private evaluations. While some of this reflects overdue support, the system is increasingly strained, inequitable, and vulnerable to strategic use, raising the looming question of what happens “if it hits 50 or 60 percent.”  The show wraps with an interview featuring Diana Colleen, a novelist whose work blends moral tension with imaginative, reality‑bending storytelling. Her award-winning novel, They Could Be Saviors, explores billionaire-ism as a mental illness that psychedelic therapy might treat, framing it as one potential path toward addressing existential issues like climate change.

 

The hour opens with an examination of the explosive rise in disability accommodations on college campuses &mdash; especially elite ones &mdash; where registration rates have surged to levels with &ldquo;no historical parallel,&rdquo; driven largely by mental‑health diagnoses and easier access to private evaluations. While some of this reflects overdue support, the system is increasingly strained, inequitable, and vulnerable to strategic use, raising the looming question of what happens &ldquo;if it hits 50 or 60 percent.&rdquo;&nbsp; The show wraps with an interview featuring&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dianacolleenauthor.com/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="2">Diana Colleen</a>, a novelist whose work blends moral tension with imaginative, reality‑bending storytelling. Her award-winning novel,&nbsp;<a href="https://a.co/d/00FbQEYO" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1">They Could Be Saviors</a>, explores billionaire-ism as a mental illness that psychedelic therapy might treat, framing it as one potential path toward addressing existential issues like climate change.
&nbsp;

Hour 2: The Surge in Campus Accommodations | Diana Colleen on Power, Ethics & Extraordinary Abilities

Episode 90 opens with an activist’s X post describing dogs as “unclean,” a remark that set off a wave of online speculation about Muslims supposedly trying to ban pets in New York City—despite no such proposal ever being formally introduced. From there, the hosts move to the debate surrounding Congress’s BOWOW Act, where dogs again entered the political conversation, this time as part of an immigration‑related messaging fight rather than a discussion about animal welfare or statutory changes.  The hour ends with an interview featuring Michael Bedenbaugh -- a historian and civic advocate whose work focuses on preserving America’s cultural foundations and renewing public engagement. He is the author of Reviving Our Republic, a call to restore the nation’s democratic fabric through historical insight and community action.

Episode 90 opens with an activist&rsquo;s X post describing dogs as &ldquo;unclean,&rdquo; a remark that set off a wave of online speculation about Muslims supposedly trying to ban pets in New York City&mdash;despite no such proposal ever being formally introduced. From there, the hosts move to the debate surrounding Congress&rsquo;s BOWOW Act, where dogs again entered the political conversation, this time as part of an immigration‑related messaging fight rather than a discussion about animal welfare or statutory changes.&nbsp; The hour ends with an interview featuring&nbsp;<a href="https://mikebedenbaugh.com/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Michael Bedenbaugh</a>&nbsp;-- a historian and civic advocate whose work focuses on preserving America&rsquo;s cultural foundations and renewing public engagement. He is the author of&nbsp;<a href="https://revivingourrepublic.com/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1">Reviving Our Republic</a>, a call to restore the nation&rsquo;s democratic fabric through historical insight and community action.

Hour 1: Dogs, Culture Wars & the BOWOW Act | Michael Bedenbaugh on Reviving Our Republic

In this hour, the hosts unpack Timothée Chalamet’s February 24, 2026 quip during a CNN/Variety town hall with Matthew McConaughey—joking that he avoids ballet or opera because “no one cares about this anymore”—sparking viral outrage from the arts community, including pointed rebukes from opera star Isabel Leonard and cheeky promotional responses from the Metropolitan Opera and other institutions, all against a backdrop of declining attendance stats and generational relevance worries for these classic forms. The episode closes with an interview featuring Dennis A. Brennan, an attorney, political historian, and author who draws on over 35 years in law to dissect the weaponization of legal systems in U.S. politics; his 2025 book D.C. Swamp Strikes Back: Aaron Burr, Donald Trump and Their Similar Battles highlights striking parallels between Burr’s historical persecution and Trump’s modern legal battles, portraying both as targets of entrenched “swamp” power and political vendettas.

In this hour, the hosts unpack Timoth&eacute;e Chalamet&rsquo;s February 24, 2026 quip during a CNN/Variety town hall with Matthew McConaughey&mdash;joking that he avoids ballet or opera because &ldquo;no one cares about this anymore&rdquo;&mdash;sparking viral outrage from the arts community, including pointed rebukes from opera star Isabel Leonard and cheeky promotional responses from the Metropolitan Opera and other institutions, all against a backdrop of declining attendance stats and generational relevance worries for these classic forms. The episode closes with an interview featuring&nbsp;<a href="https://authordennisbrennan.com/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="2">Dennis A. Brennan</a>, an attorney, political historian, and author who draws on over 35 years in law to dissect the weaponization of legal systems in U.S. politics; his 2025 book&nbsp;<a href="https://a.co/d/08up4bzM" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="3">D.C. Swamp Strikes Back: Aaron Burr, Donald Trump and Their Similar Battles</a>&nbsp;highlights striking parallels between Burr&rsquo;s historical persecution and Trump&rsquo;s modern legal battles, portraying both as targets of entrenched &ldquo;swamp&rdquo; power and political vendettas.

Hour 2: The Trials and Tribulations Awaiting the Holy Father; Interview with Mark Gogolewski

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