The Problem With...

The Problem With Gen Z: Elliot Bewick

Elliot Bewick joins James Smith to reveal the problem with Gen Z. This generation is currently trapped in a quiet crisis where skyrocketing anxiety rates and plummeting fertility are threatening the future of social stability. Bewick explains why modern connectivity has become a dangerous trap that trades genuine competence for manufactured authenticity. 👁️ Try Neutonic: https://www.neutonic.com/jamessmith 🧪 Check your Test: https://www.manual.co/smith 📝 Business Mentoring: https://www.jamessmith.business 🏋🏼‍♂️ Online Coaching: https://www.jamessmithacademy.com He explains: ◼️ Why skyrocketing suicide and anxiety rates are destroying mental health ◼️ How Instagram turned human connection into a predatory and exhausting status game. ◼️ What happens when there are no incentives to work ◼️ How the West has become obsessed with victimisation Timestamps 00:00 The Crisis Facing Gen Z 03:15 The Problem With Content Ideation 05:07 The Reality of Gen Z Mental Health 07:56 How Young People Climb Status 09:39 The Impact of COVID on Gen Z 12:37 Modern Social Media Status Hierarchies 17:02 The Trap of Manufactured Authenticity 20:48 The Ethics of Steroid Disclosure 25:09 Why Jiu-Jitsu Cures Body Dysmorphia 31:25 Performative Difficulty vs True Hardship 39:58 The Looming Loneliness Epidemic 43:51 Why Modern History Was Worse 48:10 The Trench Visualization for Perspective 54:26 The Practice of Secular Grace 59:51 Hard Work vs Generational Privilege 01:01:51 The Global Housing Crisis Reality 01:05:01 The Pending Depopulation Crisis 01:07:08 Why Men Are Losing Purpose 01:11:18 The Rise of Masculinity Outlaws 01:16:00 Modern Career Opportunities for Gen Z 01:19:17 How to Build a Legacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Problem With Saving For Retirement: Damien Talks Money

In this episode of The Problem With Podcast, James Smith sits down with Damien Jordan, the voice behind the hugely popular YouTube channel Damien Talks Money, for a no-nonsense conversation about money, taxes, investing, and the uncomfortable truths most people ignore. Damien breaks down why the average person feels poorer despite “doing everything right,” how inflation and fiscal drag quietly erode wealth, and why property, pensions, and taxes are stacked against younger generations. From inheritance tax and housing shortages to crypto hype, market timing fears, and whether moving abroad actually solves anything. This episode challenges how you think about money and the system around it. 👁️ Try Neutonic: https://www.neutonic.com/jamessmith 🧪 Check your Test: https://www.manual.co/smith 📝 Business Mentoring: https://www.jamessmith.business 🏋🏼‍♂️ Online Coaching: https://www.jamessmithacademy.com We cover: ⬛ Why Inflation & Tax Quietly Kill Wealth ⬛ Property, Pensions & The Rigged System ⬛ Investing Fears, Crypto Hype & Reality ⬛ Living Now vs Chasing Retirement Timestamps 00:00 Real Returns After Inflation 02:55 Bank Money Creation Explained 06:55 Fiscal Drag Tax Trap 09:06 UK Vs Australia Taxes 11:49 Is Inheritance Tax Fair? 16:10 Untaxed Housing Windfalls 17:15 Why Homes Stay Scarce 21:33 Aging Population Pension Crunch 26:24 Retirement Vs Living Now 35:06 Mortgage Payoff Vs Investing 40:39 Beating Market Timing Fear 43:14 Crypto Hype Vs Bitcoin 47:00 Invest In Business Growth 52:17 HENRY 100K Tax Cliff 56:05 Wealth Tax Reality Check 59:12 Moving To Dubai Debate 65:04 UK Debt And Spending Truth 68:24 Daily Pain Of Commuting Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Problem With Not Having Kids: Paul Morland

Demographer and author Paul Morland joins James Smith to reveal the uncomfortable truth about the problem with population collapse - why falling birth rates are creating aging societies, economic decline and a quiet crisis at the heart of the modern world. Morland explains how a lack of children is reshaping nations, destroying communities and threatening the future of humanity itself. They discuss the myths around “overpopulation,” the cultural shifts stopping people from having families and the real reasons behind the demographic time bomb no one wants to talk about. From housing and technology to feminism and social media, this episode explores how comfort, distraction and misplaced priorities have turned reproduction into a global taboo. 👁️ Try Neutonic: https://www.neutonic.com/jamessmith 🧪 Check your Test: https://www.manual.co/smith 📝 Business Mentoring: https://www.jamessmith.business 🏋🏼‍♂️ Online Coaching: https://www.jamessmithacademy.com He explains: ◼️ Why population collapse will bankrupt countries ◼️ How culture and comfort are killing fertility ◼️ Why the “too many people” myth is a dangerous lie ◼️ How governments can (and must) incentivise family life ◼️ What happens when a society stops having children timestamps 00:00 Why Population Decline Matters 02:00 Korea’s Aging Population Spiral 05:14 Can Earth Support More People? 08:34 Humans As The Ultimate Resource 11:22 Demography Everyone Misunderstands 14:07 The Global Fertility Collapse 18:55 Choice Vs Biological Fertility 22:10 Why People Stop Having Kids 25:33 Housing, Work, And Modern Life 27:07 Incentives Can’t Fix Culture Alone 31:16 Welfare, Taxes, And Family Penalties 34:20 Why Fertility Isn’t Political 36:49 Women, Work, And Family Timing 41:12 How Workplaces Must Change 49:21 Dating Apps And Relationship Breakdown 57:31 Teaching Fertility Earlier 62:44 East Asia’s Status Trap 68:26 Immigration Or National Decline 80:46 What Population Collapse Looks Like Welcome to "The Problem With" where each week we look into a problem to get a better understanding of it. This podcast has no sponsors, only my businesses and investments. Please check out the links below. I'm on a mission to help men check their levels of Testosterone, more info here: https://www.manual.co/smith I help small businesses make money online: https://www.jamessmith.business Please check out and try Neutonic here: https://www.neutonic.com/jamessmith For a free trial of my online personal training app go here: https://www.affordableonlinecoaching.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Problem With Aging: Andrew Steele

Check your testosterone levels: https://www.manual.co/smith I help small businesses make money online: https://www.jamessmith.business Try Neutonic: https://www.neutonic.com/jamessmith Free trial: Online coaching app: https://www.affordableonlinecoaching.com Scientist and author Dr. Andrew Steele joins James Smith to tackle the problem with aging and why dying of “old age” might one day be seen as a preventable condition. Andrew breaks down the science of longevity, the myths around “anti-aging,” and the difference between fundamental research and influencer nonsense. He explains how new medical breakthroughs could help humans live healthier for far longer, but also why the hype around biohacking and “forever pills” is getting dangerously ahead of the science. They explore the ethical, political, and even economic implications of extending human life, from billionaire-funded immortality labs to the fear that longevity could deepen inequality. Andrew reveals what the real science shows about genes, lifestyle, and luck; why exercise is still the best anti-aging treatment we have; and how new drugs like GLP-1 agonists could transform global health and longevity. He explains: ◼️ Why 90% of deaths in rich countries are caused by aging ◼️ The truth about genetic luck vs lifestyle choices ◼️ How longevity drugs could revolutionise healthcare ◼️ Why “anti-ageing” influencers are misleading the public ◼️ The shocking economics of living to 100… or beyond Chapters 00:00 Why Men Die Earlier Than Women 01:31 The Real Problem With Aging 02:36 Separating Longevity Fact From Fiction 05:23 What Your Face Reveals About Health 08:50 How Much Do Genetics Actually Matter? 12:32 Do Weight Loss Drugs Slow Aging? 16:48 The Stigma Of Weight Loss Drugs 19:01 James’ Experience Taking Weight Loss Drugs 22:37 Is Taking Ozempic "Cheating"? 27:02 The Reality Of Maintaining Weight Loss 31:26 Why Modern Diets Are Failing 35:26 The Future Of Longevity Medicine 39:36 Will Longevity Increase Retirement Age? 43:01 The Problem With Bryan Johnson’s Protocol 46:44 Is Biohacking Just An Eating Disorder? 52:01 The Dangers Of Over-Optimizing Health 56:36 Does Health Anxiety Shorten Lifespan? 01:01:46 The Truth About HRT For Women 01:06:51 Does Testosterone Shorten Men’s Lives? 01:12:50 Why Eunuchs Live Longer Than Men 01:17:56 The Philosophy Of Living Forever 01:27:11 The Most Effective Longevity Habits 01:29:56 Does Intermittent Fasting Increase Longevity? 01:38:36 The Most Promising Anti-Aging Drug 01:45:36 The Economic Case For Curing Aging Welcome to "The Problem With" where each week we look into a problem to get a better understanding of it. This podcast has no sponsors, only my businesses and investments. Please check out the links below. I'm on a mission to help men check their levels of Testosterone, more info here: https://www.manual.co/smith I help small businesses make money online: https://www.jamessmith.business Please check out and try Neutonic here: https://www.neutonic.com/jamessmith For a free trial of my online personal training app go here: https://www.affordableonlinecoaching.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Problem With The AI Apocalypse: Connor Leahy

Check your testosterone levels: https://www.manual.co/smith I help small businesses make money online: https://www.jamessmith.business Try Neutonic: https://www.neutonic.com/jamessmith Free trial: Online coaching app: https://www.affordableonlinecoaching.com AI researcher and ControlAI founder Connor Leahy joins James Smith to confront the problem with artificial intelligence - from misinformation and manipulation to the terrifying speed at which machines are learning to outthink their creators. Connor, one of the world’s leading voices in AI safety, explains how we’re building systems that are more intelligent than humans…and why we don’t really understand how they work. They discuss the future of AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) and ASI (Artificial Superintelligence), exploring what happens when machines evolve faster than we can control them. Connor breaks down the moral, political, and psychological implications of AI, from fake online identities and emotional manipulation to the emerging arms race between nations and corporations desperate to be first. He explains: ◼️ Why AI is already outpacing human understanding ◼️ How propaganda and algorithms shape reality ◼️ The dangers of AI “boyfriends” and emotional manipulation ◼️ Why superintelligence could end human control ◼️ What governments and people must do before it’s too late Chapters 0:00 – Why the Future of AI Looks Dangerous 0:31 – What ASI Really Means for Humanity 1:29 – The Core Problem With Modern AI Systems 3:02 – How AI Is Built and Why We Can’t Control It 6:04 – The Hidden Dangers of Social Media + AI Manipulation 10:09 – AI vs AGI vs ASI Explained Simply 17:01 – How Fast AGI Could Turn Into Superintelligence 22:22 – Utopian vs Dystopian Futures With AI 29:02 – AI Relationships, Loneliness & Digital Partners 47:18 – Why AI Could Replace Human Connection & Autonomy Welcome to "The Problem With" where each week we look into a problem to get a better understanding of it. This podcast has no sponsors, only my businesses and investments. Please check out the links below. I'm on a mission to help men check their levels of Testosterone, more info here: https://www.manual.co/smith I help small businesses make money online: https://www.jamessmith.business Please check out and try Neutonic here: https://www.neutonic.com/jamessmith For a free trial of my online personal training app go here: https://www.affordableonlinecoaching.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices