The James Altucher Show

• How to Challenge Moon Landing Hoax Theories: Insights from Brian Keating

  James brings back astrophysicist Brian Keating for a practical takedown of moon-landing conspiracy claims—and a wider lesson in how to reason when everyone has a microphone. From the Van Allen belts to “the flag waving,” Keating separates physics from folklore, explains what evidence actually looks like (hello, laser retroreflectors), and gives a playbook for engaging friends who’ve gone down the rabbit hole—without losing your mind.MAKE SURE TO WATCH: Brian Keating's Video Debunking the Moon Landing Conspiracy TheoryWhat You’ll Learn:A simple framework for arguing well: define the claim, demand specific evidence, check physics and history, and compare against competing explanations.Why the Van Allen belts don’t “fry” astronauts and how Apollo minimized exposure (trajectory + speed + shielding).How we still verify Apollo today (lunar laser ranging off Apollo-placed mirrors).How to spot trope-based arguments (appeals to vibes, selective papers, “we haven’t gone back, therefore it never happened”).Timestamped Chapters:[00:00] Opening: “What’s up with Candace Owens?” Setting the table: Bart Sibrel, viral platforms, and why this matters.[02:30] Rogan, Jesse Michels, and the megaphone effect. Platforms amplify doubt; why it sticks.[04:20] Thiel salons & the culture wars around ‘science.’ Belief, institutions, and physics “stagnation.”[06:15] The debate that never happened. Why Sibrel refused; what counts as a real debate.[15:45] Physics 101: Van Allen belts. Charged particles, trajectories, dose vs. time.[23:10] “We haven’t gone back” ≠ “we never went.” South Pole analogy; politics, cost, and program shifts.[30:00] Flag shadows, cameras, and remote control. Why the photo/camera myths fail basic engineering.[35:05] Apollo 1, the ‘lemon,’ and what actually happened. Tragedy, design fixes, and conspiratorial leaps.[44:10] Keating’s NASA work. Aviation safety, non-destructive evaluation, and why ‘NASA is useless’ is unserious.[57:10] Hard evidence you can measure: Apollo retroreflectors, seismographs, and international confirmations.Core references:Van Allen radiation belts — NASA overview. NASA ScienceLunar laser retroreflectors (Apollo 11/14/15) — NASA & background. NASASoviet Luna 15 crashed during Apollo 11 (context on USSR verification/competition). NASAPeople, platforms, and episodes mentioned:Buzz Aldrin vs. Bart Sibrel (2002 incident) — background. HISTORYBart Sibrel — Danny Jones episode featuring Charles Duke (context). YouTubeJesse Michels on The Joe Rogan Experience (recent appearance). YouTubeHistorical context:Apollo 1 fire & the “lemon” (hung on a simulator, not the flight capsule). SpaceCultural notes referenced in-episode:Celebrity moon-hoax chatter (recent coverage of the Kardashians’ comments). People.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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• Digital Social Hour Podcast by Sean Kelly: Why Gen Z Might Be the Most Talented Generation in History

  Today, we're sharing the recent episode of the Digital Social Hour Podcast by Sean Kelly. James Altucher joins the show to break down why the 10,000-hour rule is a myth, how to cheat your way into the top 1%, why obsession matters more than talent, and how AI is now the greatest mentor of all time.From entrepreneurship and failure… to mental health, chess mastery, comedy, and why losing millions hurts more than being broke — this episode goes deep.If you're chasing mastery, reinvention, or clarity in your career… this is the one.📘 What You’ll Learn 🧠 Why the 10,000-hour rule is outdated and how to shortcut mastery🔥 How to reach the top 1% by combining skills instead of grinding years🤖 How to use AI as your mentor, therapist, teacher & coach💭 Why thinking can’t fix depression — but action can💰 The 3 money skills: making it, keeping it, growing it🧩 How to rebuild identity after losing everything📈 The real mindset behind entrepreneurship & risk🎤 Why stand-up comedy teaches business better than business books♟️ Chess strategy that applies to life, business, and competition💡 How writing 10 ideas a day can change your brain & lifeCHAPTERS:00:00 – The 10,000-Hour Rule is BS02:30 – How to Enter the Top 1% Faster04:00 – AI as the Ultimate Mentor05:20 – Mental Health, Depression & Real Recovery07:00 – Losing Millions & Rebuilding From Zero09:20 – Idea Muscle: How Writing 10 Ideas Saved His Life12:00 – Entrepreneurship Reality (Not the Instagram Version)14:45 – Risk, Failure & Business Heartbreaks17:10 – Bitcoin, Wealth, and Why It’s Going to Millions19:40 – Politics, Social Media & the New Attention Economy23:00 – Comedy, Skill Stacking & Becoming World-Class26:40 – Chess, Mindset & Mental Toughness30:20 – Why Gen Z Might Be the Most Talented Generation Ever35:00 – Pressure, Self-Doubt & Finding Your Identity Again🎧 LISTEN ON🍏 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...🎵 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Jn7LXa...📸 Sean Kelly Instagram: @seanmikekellySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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• How AI Will Change Hollywood Forever: Tye Sheridan & Nikola Todorovic on AI, VFX, and the Future of Filmmaking

  A Note from James:Tye Sheridan is one of my favorite actors. You might know him as Cyclops in the X-Men movies (Apocalypse, etc.) or as the lead in Ready Player One—which is not only a great movie but also one of my favorite sci-fi books. One of his first films was Mud with Matthew McConaughey.What I didn’t realize: since 2016, while still acting, Tye has also been a serious AI entrepreneur. He and Nikola Todorovic co-founded AI-powered VFX/CGI company, Wonder Dynamics, now an Autodesk company, that built AI tools to make visual effects more accessible.I wanted them both on to talk about how AI will change filmmaking—potentially letting someone like me make a movie that would normally cost hundreds of millions because of VFX—and, just as important, how Tye balanced being a movie star and an entrepreneur at the same time. I also wanted Nikola’s take on where AI is going and whether it will take jobs. Fascinating conversation ahead—here are Tye Sheridan and Nikola Todorovic.Episode Description:James sits down with actor–founder Tye Sheridan and VFX director Nikola Todorovic to unpack how their company’s AI tools (now part of Autodesk) are changing what small teams can pull off—and what that means for studios, budgets, and actual stories. They trace the path from stitching 360° GoPro rigs and a VR proof-of-concept… to a first demo for Steven Spielberg… to a platform that lets indies do big-look work without big-studio burn. You’ll hear clear, non-hyped answers on where text-to-video fits, why they focus on editable 3D over black-box 2D, and a candid take on the only moat that still matters: writing something people care about.What You’ll Learn:A workable cost model for VFX-heavy projects: where 10× savings can come from—and where they can’t.How to run “lean” on real productions: recruiting cross-disciplinary talent and sequencing funding without chasing hype cycles.3D pipelines vs. text-to-video: why pros need full control of lighting, camera, and performance—and how Sora-style tools can still complement the workflow.Story first, always: the audience forgives limited budgets—not lazy scripts.A pragmatic future for studios and indies: expanding voices without erasing human actors or craft.Timestamped Chapters:[00:02:00] “Hollywood is nervous”: James frames the AI anxiety he’s hearing in studio rooms.[00:03:01] A note from James: why Tye’s career (from Mud to Ready Player One) made him the right guest—plus Nikola’s VFX roots.[00:06:03] Tree of Life to tech startup: meeting on set, Chivo’s influence, and early curiosity about tools.[00:13:46] DIY 360° & the Spielberg audition: the VR demo, a $10k experiment, and a first product pitch to Steven.[00:20:12] The question everyone asks: will AI erase studio jobs—or expand what smaller teams can make?[00:24:00] Distribution changed—financing didn’t: presales, streaming, strikes, and why a bigger shift is still coming.[00:27:12] Reality check on budgets: VFX vs. SFX, and how a $100M effects bill could land near $10M.[00:36:02] Running lean + real backers: Founders Fund, MaC VC, Horizons; hiring for overlap (CV/ML/VFX/eng).[00:37:44] From waitlist to workflows: who used the platform first, and a TV case where weeks became days.[00:42:12] Sora vs. 3D pipelines: where text-to-video fits—and why pros avoid black-box 2D for final shots.[01:00:45] “A decade of procrastination”: the founders joke about building a company to avoid writing their own film—then set sights on making it.Additional Resources:Tye Sheridan — filmography and roles (Ready Player One, X-Men). WikipediaNikola Todorovic — Co-founder, Wonder Dynamics (Autodesk company). linkedin.comAutodesk acquires Wonder Dynamics — press release (May 21, 2024). Autodesk NewsAutodesk Flow Studio (formerly Wonder Studio) — product page & docs. AutodeskReady Player One (2018). WikipediaThe Card Counter (2021). WikipediaThe Tree of Life (2011) & Emmanuel “Chivo” Lubezki. IMDbSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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• AI That Helps, Schools That Don’t, and How Not to Go Crazy with Prof. Brian Keating

  Episode Description:James sits down with astrophysicist Brian Keating for a candid, useful tour through three hot zones: how to think about AI (and where it actually helps), what’s broken in higher ed and admissions right now, and why outsourcing your mood to politics is a losing strategy. You’ll hear first-hand stories (from UC San Diego classrooms to New York City politics), specific ways James and Brian really use AI daily, and a simple framework for protecting your attention and happiness—even when everything feels polarized.What You’ll Learn:A practical AI workflow you can copy today (research prompts, personal “style” bots, and where LLMs fail at original insight). A filter for political noise that keeps 99% of your happiness anchored in health, family, friends, and work you control. What the UCSD admissions/placement findings really mean for preparation and standards (and why “remedial” can mask deeper gaps).A simple admissions/common-sense principle: standards matter; “portfolio” evaluation shouldn’t ignore basic skills. How to use AI without losing your own voice—James’ test for “write it in my style” and why generic outputs still fall short. Timestamped Chapters:[02:00] Loft event stories, comedy beats, and setting the tone for a heavy topic. [05:00] NYC politics, leadership, and the “why would they vote for him?” question. [07:32] Slogans vs. reality: chants, charters, and what words actually imply. [09:30] Economics that sound nice vs. incentives that ruin cities. [12:00] “Don’t outsource your happiness to politicians.” A sanity reset. [20:48] Inside UCSD’s placement data: how did calculus passers miss first-grade algebra? [30:02] Standards, SATs, and what “remedial” hides (plus grade inflation). [77:49] How James and Brian actually use AI; “mad-bot disease” and why voice still matters.Additional ResourcesBrian Keating's "Monday M.A.G.I.C." NewsletterBrian Keating — personal websiteLosing the Nobel Prize: A Story of Cosmology, Ambition, and the Perils of Science’s Highest Honor by Brian KeatingInto the Impossible: Think Like a Nobel Prize Winner by Brian KeatingInto the Impossible Volume 2: Focus Like a Nobel Prize WinnerUniversity of California, San Diego — Brian Keating faculty pageTopics & Documents MentionedUC San Diego Admissions/Placement Working Group report (PDF). UCSD SenateCoverage of UCSD preparedness findingsHamas charters (1988; 2017 update) & “Intifada” contextMatt Wolfe — AI tutorials (site & YouTube)Book.sv - AI book recommendations based on books you've read.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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• Kent Heckenlively on Catastrophic Disclosure: UFO Whistleblowers, Government Spin, and James’s 85% Rule

  A Note from James:Are UFOs real or not? For 80 years there have been credible whistleblowers saying the government recovered craft—and even bodies. That’s why I wanted Kent Heckenlively on, the author of Catastrophic Disclosure: The Deep State, Aliens, and the Truth. I’m not here to decide for you. I want to hear the best evidence, ask the obvious questions, and have you help me figure out if we actually got closer to the truth. Let’s find out together. Episode Description:n this episode, James sits down with Kent Heckenlively—attorney, journalist, and coauthor of Catastrophic Disclosure: The Deep State, Aliens, and the Truth—to stress-test the most serious UFO claims on the table right now. Kent argues that humanity is on the brink of a “catastrophic disclosure” moment where long-hidden crash retrieval programs, nonhuman technology, and even bodies will be forced into the open. James plays the role he knows best: friendly skeptic who wants receipts, definitions, and clear thinking.Together they walk through recent congressional hearings, whistleblower testimony, the Yemen orb video, and those strange Peruvian mummies that look either like a bad hoax… or like something we truly don’t understand. They talk about how many people would have to keep secrets for decades, why the best deceptions are mostly true, and how scientific projects like Colossal Biosciences’ “de-extincted” dire wolves show both the promise and the hype of cutting-edge genetics. The result isn’t a verdict on whether aliens are visiting us. It’s a framework. James and Kent map out a way to think about uncertainty, spin, and incentives—whether you’re trying to decide what you believe about UFOs, pandemics, financial crises, or any other story where the truth lives behind NDAs, classified briefings, and very human motives.What You’ll Learn:James’s 85/15 rule for extraordinary claims—stay open without getting swept up. What makes the pilot/whistleblower testimony compelling—and what still doesn’t add up.How definitions and bureaucracy shape the narrative (e.g., how agencies say “not alien” without proving “explained”). A quick due-diligence checklist for wild stories (videos, “mummies,” pressers): provenance, incentives, cross-discipline sanity checks. Why institutional spin and media incentives matter—and how to discount them without becoming cynical. Timestamped Chapters:[00:00] Cold Open — “If big institutions lie once, what else are they hiding?” [02:00] Kent’s stance: 85% “probably real,” 15% “maybe psyop—or brain glitches” [03:00] A Note from James — from skeptic to curious agnostic [04:16] Campfire confessions: trusted friends and the triangle in the Texas sky [06:29] From CIA exposes to UFOs: why this book took two years [07:00] 2023 hearings and “catastrophic disclosure” (vs. “controlled disclosure”) [10:06] Who is David Grusch? Why his language puzzles lawyers and persuades believers [12:32] Congress vs. intel: Burchett, Luna, oversight, and stonewalls [13:50] 25 investigations and a “mushroom cloud” excuse—when reports insult your intelligence [16:06] Firsthand witnesses: Dylan Borland and triangle craft near a NASA hangar [19:15] The hair-split: “real programs, correct personnel—just not alien” [23:30] Definition games: why “not alien” can still leave you with anomalies [25:06] Peru’s three-fingered “mummies”: scans, DNA claims, and what science would need next [30:43] Where the bodies are (allegedly) stored; who’s gotten access [33:42] Genetics sanity check: bananas, chimps, and why 70% similarity is strange here [34:05] Secrets and scale: could thousands keep quiet for 80 years? Greer’s 700 accounts [39:55] Before Sputnik: “vanishing stars” and odd plates in old sky surveys [42:53] NDAs, treason clauses, and why real whistleblowers are scared [44:25] James’s middle path: optimistic skeptic, not a cynic [48:28] The “Yemen orb” footage: multiple sensors, a Hellfire, and unanswered physics [50:30] Contact across a tech gap: Aztecs, galleons, and cell phones in 1025 AD [52:22] Nukes, Trinity, and why someone might be watching our arsenals [53:29] Quantum wormholes or “witches’ spells”? The story vs. the proof [55:27] Living with real unknowns and resisting team-sports thinking [55:59] Lightning round: the 100,000-year alien road-trip question Additional Resources:Guest & BookCatastrophic Disclosure: The Deep State, Aliens, and the Truth — Amazon listing. AmazonKent Heckenlively author page (Amazon). AmazonHearings, Pilots & WhistleblowersCmdr. David Fravor’s written statement to House Oversight (Tic-Tac). House Oversight CommitteeRyan Graves — testimony & org. Congress.govHouse UAP proceedings (hearing materials hub). Congress.govNew Footage ReferencedCBS News recap of Rep. Eric Burlison presenting the “Yemen orb” video. CBS NewsProjects & People MentionedDr. Steven Greer — Disclosure Project site. Dr. Steven GreerVASCO Project (Vanishing & Appearing Sources). Vasco ProjectColossal Biosciences — Dire-wolf project (and scientific explainer). ColossalSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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