The Totally Legitimate Business Podcast

On Episode 144 of The TLB Podcast, James sits down with Hani Latif and Justin Kellner of Counters and Feelers, to talk about their long-awaited debut record, Watering Dead Plants. They break down the unique challenges and unexpected joys of creating music remotely, how old ideas evolve into new creative breakthroughs, and why tone, gear, and intentional sound design play such a crucial role in their writing process.

The co...

On Episode 143 of The TLB Podcast, James is joined by all three guitarists of The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza — Layne Meylain, Eric Burngruber, and Josh Travis — for the most in-depth and exclusive breakdown of the band’s past, present, and future.

Eric shares what it was like joining Danza and playing Furnace Fest, Josh reflects on his own creative progression, and what the future could hold for the band’s next chapt...

On Episode 142 of The TLB Podcast, James welcomes long-time friend and voice actor Jeff Tinnean for a deep and honest conversation about creativity, discipline, and fatherhood. They explore their shared history in music and theater, Jeff’s journey into voice acting, and the process of learning audio engineering from the ground up — including the mistakes, mindset shifts, and breakthroughs, and the evolving influence of AI in audio ...

On Episode 141 of The TLB Podcast, James welcomes back Chris Verga to discuss his new book, Nazis of Long Island: Sedition, Espionage and the Plot Against America. Together, they explore the hidden history of Nazi influence across Long Island during World War II, examining how propaganda, espionage networks, and ideological infiltration shaped American communities.

Verga shares firsthand accounts from local families, dives...

On Episode 140 of The TLB Podcast, James speaks with Skyler Mathis, host of The Philosophical Minds Podcast, for a deep dive into the intersections of philosophy, esotericism, and the unknown. Together, they examine the connections between aliens, nuclear energy, and AI, how ancient wisdom and modern technology mirror each other in today’s rapidly shifting world, alchemy, classified science, secret societies, and the ways these for...

On Episode 139 of The TLB Podcast, James speaks with Ryan Rado, artist, musician, and host of Make It Perfect, about what it means to chase perfection in art and life — and why imperfection might be the most beautiful part of the process.

They explore how creative expression exposes our vulnerabilities, how authenticity and self-awareness guide the artistic journey, the evolution of Nashville’s art and music scenes, and re...

On Episode 138 of The TLB Podcast, James speaks with Jason Samosa, an explorer of the UFO phenomenon, to unravel how belief, skepticism, and secrecy shape our understanding of reality, the intersection of politics, religion, and technology, how public perception on the topic is being manipulated, biblical prophecies like Gog and Magog and how they may connect to modern UFO narratives, the historical role of esoteric traditions, gov...

On Episode 137 of The TLB Podcast, James speaks with Grey, a survivor and experiencer of MKUltra-style behavioral modification programs, and the creator of Organize Safety — a platform that enables survivors of covert government and psychological manipulation to safely report and corroborate their experiences.

Grey opens up about his personal history growing up within MKUltra-like programs, exploring the multi-layered syst...

On Episode 136 of The TLB Podcast, James speaks with Gore Abrams and Danny Bellini about their creative partnership and the making of their new horror short film, Locations. The trio discuss their time working on Hell House LLC, the challenges of shooting on film, the realities of independent film production, and the journey of taking a film from script to festival submission. This episode explores the heart of independent filmmaki...

On Episode 135 of The TLB Podcast, James speaks with Sterling Cooley about the cutting edge of Medical Science, exploring the role of the vagus nerve, ultrasound technology, and microtubules in consciousness and perception, how DMT may interact with microtubules, the future of Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) as a new model for funding and ownership in scientific research, and how emerging science and decentralization ...

On Episode 134 of The TLB Podcast, James Oliva welcomes back Magnum of The Swerve Podcast to explore In-Q-Tel, the CIA's venture capital arm. They dive into its origins, investment strategies, how dual-use technologies bridge both civilian and military applications, notable investments such as Palantir and Anduril, the ethical dilemmas of surveillance and data mining, and the way In-Q-Tel’s portfolio has shaped technology acro...

On Episode 133 of The TLB Podcast, James welcomes back Ike Baker for a wide-ranging conversation on esotericism, spirituality, and modern belief systems. They discuss technology’s impact on well-being, the commercialization of spirituality, the evolving role of religion in society, how truth, suffering, and personal growth shape the search for meaning, and Ike’s upcoming immersive trip to Egypt, teaching Greco-Egyptian theology and...

On Episode 132 of The TLB Podcast, James speaks with Nashville tattoo artist Blake Owens about his journey into the trade, opening his own shop in Green Hills and the realities of running a tattoo business, the evolution of tattoo culture in Nashville, and how COVID-19 is shaping the future of the industry.

Support the Show
Early access on Patreon → https://tinyurl.com/mva2z9se
Audio-only on Spotify → https://tiny...

On Episode 131 of The Totally Legitimate Business Podcast, James welcomes back Jason Kocher for a deep dive into the hype vs. reality of emerging technologies. From iconic tech flops like the Nintendo Virtual Boy, Betamax, LaserDisc, Apple Newton, Google Glass, and the Segway, to the current innovations shaping our society, this episode reveals why some technologies fail while others change the world.

Plus: an exclusive up...

On Episode 130 of The TLB Podcast, James and returning guest Dr. Michael Pridmore, resident MRI expert and medical physicist, explore the fascinating world of medical imaging technology, the science behind MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), safety protocols in clinical environments, and common myths and misconceptions. They also discuss the overlap of wave physics in medical diagnostics, the latest emerging imaging technologies, and...

On Episode 129 of The TLB Podcast, James sits down with New York Times journalist Jon Gertner—author of The Idea Factory: Bell Labs and the Great Age of American Innovation. They explore the origin story of Bell Labs, how its telecom breakthroughs changed the world, and the ethical tensions between scientific ambition and corporate interests. From legacy inventions to its influence on today's tech landscape, this is a must-lis...

On Episode 128 of The TLB Podcast, James reconnects with Dave Gashaw— vocalist and crematory operator—to explore life in the funeral business. From navigating a family-operated funeral home to the process of cremation, and new memorialization technologies and green burials, this deeply candid episode offers a unique lens on mortality, tradition, and the evolving landscape of afterlife care.

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Early acce...

On Episode 127 of The TLB Podcast, James chats with Jeremy Rys—the “Alien Scientist”—to unpack UFO conspiracies, counterintelligence operations, and AI’s escalating role in surveillance. They dissect how digital misinformation and MK Ultra tactics still shape our perception of “truth” and authority in an increasingly algorithm-driven world.

Support the Show:
Early access on Patreon → https://tinyurl.com/mva2z9se
A...

On Episode 126 of The TLB Podcast, James welcomes Ronnie Pontiac back to the show, to trace astrology’s symbolic history and modern-day relevance. From societal forecasting to self-awareness, they explore how the astral bodies and cosmic symbolism guide inner transformation and collective consciousness.

Support the Show:
Early access on Patreon → https://tinyurl.com/mva2z9se
Audio-only on Spotify → https://tinyurl...