In the first half, economist and financial expert Harry Dent Jr. shared his insights on the current economic landscape and the cyclical nature of recessions. He emphasized the importance of understanding economic cycles, stating, "Recessions are the most important thing for long-term productivity. They clean out all the excesses." He argued that the Federal Reserve's approach to managing the economy through stimulus and deficit spending is detrimental, suggesting that "we're throwing away free market capitalism" by relying on government intervention. He believes that the ongoing economic bubble, fueled by excessive stimulus, is unsustainable and predicts a necessary downturn.

While recessions may seem unpleasant, they serve a critical purpose in maintaining economic health, he said. He argued that the massive stimulus measures taken during the COVID-19 pandemic have created an unsustainable financial bubble. Dent predicts that a crash will occur between late 2025 and 2028, and warns that it could be "worse" than previous downturns, with real estate values potentially dropping by 60% to 80% in some cases. He advised potential investors to wait for the market to stabilize before considering real estate purchases, with the best opportunities emerging around 2027-2030.

Addressing the rise of artificial intelligence, he acknowledged it will likely automate many professional jobs but that this shift should encourage people to explore entrepreneurship. Everybody's going to have to figure out what they do best and turn it into a business, he commented. Dent remains optimistic about the future, asserting that the emerging world will continue to grow, particularly in regions like India.

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Author and podcaster Jim Harold's show "The Paranormal Podcast" is one of the longest-running podcasts in its genre. In the latter half, he shared spooky stories and reflected on his two-decade journey in the realm of the supernatural and podcasting. "I believe... the nature of our reality is so much stranger and deeper than we understand," he said, highlighting the vastness of paranormal experiences that often go unnoticed. Harold explained how he collects stories from listeners, stating, "We just put the call out... and we say, hey, if you've got a true paranormal story, could be ghosts, could be UFOs, could be crypto-creatures." This unscripted approach has led to thousands of personal accounts, showcasing a broad spectrum of paranormal phenomena, including tales of Shadow People, and the sinister 'Black-Eyed Children.'

Harold recounted a humorous and thought-provoking tale from a listener named Mary, whose toddler unexpectedly chimed in during a discussion about Reptilians, saying, "People not ready yet," leaving his parents stunned. He also discussed a chilling experience involving a Ouija board, where a group of teenage girls inadvertently summoned a devil's face in a lava lamp, prompting them to abandon the board immediately.

He recalled a recent eerie encounter from a listener named Lane, who worked at a hotel where a guest had been murdered. Lane reported strange occurrences, including a voice on his radio that sounded like the deceased uttering 'I'm still alive,' and an elevator that behaved erratically. "I think he forged that connection with that ghost," Harold opined. Reflecting on the evolution of storytelling in his 20 years of podcasting, he noted that people are increasingly willing to share their paranormal experiences, particularly spiritual and ghostly ones, while still feeling some apprehension about discussing UFO sightings and especially alien abductions.

News segment guests: John M. Curtis, Charles Coppes