How do we reinvigorate a global resistance that seems to have lost its way? In this thought-provoking episode of UPThinking Finance®, John Waters reflects on the challenges facing modern movements for change.

Drawing comparisons to the unity and purpose of past revolutions, like the Velvet Revolution of 1989, Waters questions why today’s resistance struggles to attract artists, intellectuals, and the broader public. He argues that fear, gatekeeping, and fragmentation have stifled the creative voices essential for meaningful progress.

Waters offers a hopeful perspective, urging us to reclaim faith in humanity's potential for redemption and change. By fostering unity, humility, and purpose, he believes we can inspire the global resistance to serve its true goal—benefiting humanity, not power or profit. This reflection is a call to action, reminding us that hope and belief in a better world remain the most powerful tools for change.

• Finding John Waters on substack (00:00)
• How to talk to people who are unaware of a problem (1:51)
• You can’t trust people who are incentivized to follow the narrative (8:18)
• Why people won’t speak out about the problems (12:30)
• Do we have hope—or do we surrender to the way things are? (16:07)
• Concerns and hopes of Trump's team (27:00)
• What do the political changes in America mean globally? (31:02)
• Question what technology and political systems are for (36:07)
• New hope, new thinking (40:00)
• Renewed Faith in things to change (52:10)

John Waters is not affiliated with or endorsed by LPL Financial or Capital Investment Advisers.

Securities and Advisory services offered through LPL Financial. A registered investment advisor. Member FINRA & SIPC.

The financial professionals associated with LPL Financial may discuss and/or transact business only with residents of the states in which they are properly registered or licensed. No offers may be made or accepted from any resident of any other state.

• The Mythology of Progress by Charles Hugh Smith

• John's Substack

• Capital Investment Advisers
• On LinkedIn

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Today’s guest is economist Lyn Alden, an independent analyst and founder of Lyn Alden-Investment Strategy, where she publishes monthly research reports for both retail and institutional investors.

With a background in electrical engineering and a master’s in engineering management specializing in financial modeling, Lyn excels at breaking down complex economic trends into plain English.

She is also a general partner at Ego Death Capital and the author of the 2023 bestseller “Broken Money,” which examines the evolution of money through the lens of technology. In this episode, Lyn offers her perspective on the macroeconomic factors shaping 2025, including political uncertainty, fiscal dominance, and more.

• How Lyn got into investment research [1:50]
• The 2024 election’s influence on the economy [8:00]
• What happens with the debt ceiling? [16:25]
• What Lyn likes better than the dollar and why [22:09]
• Lyn’s view on BRICS plans [22:45]
• Expiring tax cuts and bank lending [28:40]
• Lyn’s experience with Bitcoin [33:55]
• Lyn’s advice to avoid complacency [41:40]

Securities and Advisory services offered through LPL Financial. A registered investment advisor. Member FINRA & SIPC.

The financial professionals associated with LPL Financial may discuss and/or transact business only with residents of the states in which they are properly registered or licensed. No offers may be made or accepted from any resident of any other state.

• Broken Money, Lyn Alden
• Ego Death Capital
• Lyn Alden-Investment Strategy

• Lyn Alden

• Capital Investment Advisers
• On LinkedIn

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Audio Production and Show Notes by - PODCAST FAST TRACK

Today, I want to share a message of hope—one that invites us to reflect on what progress truly looks like in our world today and how it should look moving forward. To help explore this topic, I’m joined by my business partner, Amy LeNoble, and returning guest Charles Hugh Smith.

Charles has been writing about social, economic, and technological trends since 2005 on his widely followed blog. He’s also the author of several thought-provoking books, including his most recent, “Mythology of Progress, Anti-Progress, and a Mythology for the 21st Century.”

In this episode, Charles challenges us to rethink the foundation of our hope. He shares a powerful insight: hope is essential to humanity, but when it’s based on fantasies or delusions, it becomes false hope. He explains how our understanding of progress—both its perception and its reality—plays a critical role in shaping genuine hope.

We’ll unpack the core ideas from Charles’s latest book and discuss the broader implications of progress for individuals and humanity as a whole.

• Where society stands today and the path that led us here [3:40]
• How defining progress has impacted our purchasing power [10:00]
• Real progress as the wellbeing and sustainability of life [18:30]
• The key triggers that drive social change [24:40]
• Solutions that prioritize people over profit [42:30]
• Finding hope in the possibility of meaningful change [47:42]

Charles Hugh Smith is not affiliated with or endorsed by LPL Financial or Capital Investment Advisers.

Securities and Advisory services offered through LPL Financial. A registered investment advisor. Member FINRA & SIPC.

The financial professionals associated with LPL Financial may discuss and/or transact business only with residents of the states in which they are properly registered or licensed. No offers may be made or accepted from any resident of any other state.

• Mythology of Progress, Anti-Progress, and a Mythology for the 21st Century

• Charles Hugh Smith

• Capital Investment Advisers
• On LinkedIn

Subscribe to Upthinking Finance

Audio Production and Show Notes by - PODCAST FAST TRACK