James Strong Show Podcast

Death Valley has had rain. Lots of rain. So where the roads aren't washed out one can witness flowers, lakes and amazing sights not seen for decades. Strong chronicles another Death Valley adventure different from the others. Check it out here.

LA Dodger star Shohei Ohtani had a $4.5 million dollar withdraw from his bank account to a bookie named Matthew Bowyer. First it was said Ohtani meant for it to be payment for his interpeter and friend Ippei Mizuhara's gambling debt. Then Mizuhara said he did it himself without Ohtani's knowledge. They a spokesman said Muzuhara just stole it from Ohtani. MLB doesn't allow players to bet on baseball. California law doesn't allow sports betting at all. If Ohtani is guilty as suspected, he could and should be done in MLB. And unless there's a clause in his $700 million contract, the Dodgers are on the hook to pay Ohtani for not playing. Just like Trevor Bauer. Will the spin continue?

A society it difined by its laws (rules) and the public's acceptance of said laws. Don't like them, change them. Today, many just ignore them, with no consequence. Parking rules, speed limits, auto tags, minimum auto insurance all seem to be a suggestion rather than a law. Strong discusses.

The market is up. Wages are up. So is inflation. It seems that everyone is getting paid, but how can you spend it smartly? Strong discussed who's getting paid and how everyone can make the buck last longer without cutting out the fun factor.

Bob Heil was a giant in the recording industry. He innovated the Heil Talk Box, quadrophonic sound and the RCA DirectTV system among others. I use Heil Sound microphones here in the studio. How big was Bob Heil? Listen here.

"Money makes the world go 'round" said Bob Fosse. He's not wrong. While money isn't everything, it does make most everything easier if you have enough, or more difficult if you do not. Some Ideas and stories on how some spend, earn and perceive money. Hint, young and old don't always agree.

A new bomb that kills without collateral damage and a multi-billionaire with a passive love for wealth. Are these stories related? Of course not, but you will find them both riveting! Oh yeah, I touch on the super bowl too. Listen here.

Once upon a time, China was a whisker away from overtaking the US as the world's biggest economy. With four times the population, I agreed it was a forgone conclusion. Not anymore. As Xi doubles down on privatization, sable rattling, sentencing opponents to death and hamstringing the economy, China is regressing, big time. Why? What's the solution to fix it? Listen here.

This podcast is about my recent vacation to sunny tropical Puerto Rico, not annexation. I just stole the phrase from the movie Little Giants. Highlights, lowlights advantages and disadvantages of going to Puerto Rico when it's cold in to Midwest US. Also, other travel tips discussed.

A recent report says American's are suffering at unprecidented rates. Really? Fake news? No, because the report figures are based on people's perception. Is perceved suffering still suffering? Sure. But there's a difference between being out of food and a slow internet that won't let you finish first in an on line gaming session. Is America the land of the crybabies? Listen and see.

Cause and Effect are responsible for most results. If studied correctly, there should be few suprises in life. Three examples this week include MyPillow, Chinese car exports and promotions for work from home people. "If you do this, the result is usually that".

Xi Jinping, the dictator for life in the PRC, recently reversed the one child policy in the PRC. That's after years of forced abortions, sterilizations, and penalties for having too many children (more that one). This resulted in an aging population where women are rejecting marrage and childern for economic reasons. Xi's attempts to force women's hands falling on deaf ears. So you think Biden and Trump suck, check out Xi!

The economy drives the west and threat to the economy is war. Not just in Ukarine and the Middle East, but Benin, Niger, Somolia, Kenya, The Red Sea and Guyana. These are all countries where US troops are stationed and fighting or supporting troops fighting wars. And the list is growing. War is expensive and takes its toll on resourses and funds. If the West throws in the towel, who takes over? China? Russia? Islamist State? All worse choices. The who and why of these conflicts discussed here.

What's an SAHG? It's a stay at home girlfriend. It's the brand new trend that some young women dream about. No commitment, no kids, no work. Actually, this NEW Phenomenon is nothing new. It used to me called a mistress, but that term is demeaning to women. Perhaps I'm off base. Listen and let me know.

Remember when please, thank you from the customer were signs of a job well done by a business? Now it's "Give us 5 Stars" and businesses bribe, threaten and intimidate the customer until they do. Is this smart? Is this affective? Is there a better way? Listen to find out.

Well, here it is, the Strongman's 10 best songs of all time. Not rock songs, not pop songs, not his favorite songs, but the best of ALL times. Included are selections from the early 1800's to the 1970's with a synopsis on why each was included. Listsen up and let the hate begin.

Henry Kissinger left a huge fingerprint on today's world although 45 years have passed since he was last a direct part of government. Kissinger's "New World Order" has allowed the US and the West to prosper and run the show often at the expense of lesser nations and people. Today's essay is a look at Kissinger's influence that was still being implemented personally until mere weeks before his death.

Tech as a tool is useful. It makes life easier and more productive. When used as a tool. Putting the tech horse before the cart hauling mankind is a disaster waiting to happen. Driverless cars and the battery supply chain are the latest chinks in the rusty armor of tech.

America and the West in general, love our cars. Our cars that burn gasoline. They provide fun transportation and freedom at an accptable cost. What about EVs? Not so much. The tech guys have bought theirs, and Joe normal doesn't want them. Tesla and a few Chinese companies turn a profit, but everyone else is bleeding cash. Why? Because the public doesn't want them. Listen here to find out why.

Madman Marcum was (is) a guest on Art Bell's Coast to Coast in the 1990's. He claimed to be building a time machine. He then vanished from notoriety. A story from the 1930's identified a dead man on a California beach, in a tube, with a cell phone. Is (was) this Madman Marcum? Listen up and find out.