The Adventure Capitalist

As Germany's politics and economy shift, the direction the country is headed is eerily similar to its past. Meanwhile, Russia's economy may be faltering under a wartime economy that has been dragging on. As this all unfolds, Germany seems to be taking the leadership role for the EU, as it pertains to the war in Ukraine. This includes the ramping up of weapons supply and capabilities that Ukraine can use against Russia. Is this history repeating? Or is this time different?   Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 01:14 - Sunlight the cure 04:04 - Germany Geopolitics 21:26 - Russia Geopolitics 26:24 - Strength of Economies 29:05 - Second-order consequences 36:39 - Investment Ideas 44:32 - Outro   Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/b4FsoV9UNRg   Follow us on X: Austin - https://x.com/a_brawn Cody - https://x.com/CodyShirk

In this episdode of The Adventure Capitlist podcast we interview Ernest Scheyder, Reuters senior correspondent and author of "The War Below: Lithium, Copper, and the Global Battle to Power Our Lives." We dive into the complex world of critical minerals, lithium, copper, rare earth metals, and other resources that are essential for electric vehicles, renewable energy, and modern technology. Ernest shares his perspectives on the environmental, geopolitical, and human challenges of mining these resources, from conflicts over sacred lands to the race for energy independence. This episode, and his book, is an eye-opener for those who want to find new investing ideas and also understand what direction the world is headed in.   Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 01:05 - Cody's new addition 02:48 - This week's guest... 04:59 - Welcome Ernest Scheyder 05:38 - The War Below 11:33 - USA troubles 14:37 - Will the USA ever be competitive? 21:48 - USA raw mineral struggles 25:47 - Does recycling have a future? 29:01 - Future perdictions 32:30 - Biggest takeaways 39:22 - Outro   Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/vdIGbn08LSg   Follow us on X: Austin - https://x.com/a_brawn Cody - https://x.com/CodyShirk

The hosts discuss the physical and mental challenges of completing a 50-mile walk. They delve into Trump's diplomatic visit to the Middle East, revealing potential investment opportunities. The conversation shifts to the implications of the U.S. credit rating downgrade and its effects on commodities and cryptocurrency markets. Lastly, they tackle the controversial handling of Biden's cancer diagnosis, raising questions about transparency and trust in politics.

In this episode of The Adventure Capitalist, Cody and Austin review the top performing markets of 2025 (so far). These countries, which have all experienced at least double digit growth since the start of the year, have generally been poor performers over the past several years. Their valuations were pushed to extreme lows during 2024, and now in 2025 these same countries are roaring back with enormous gains across their economy and stock markets. We discuss the specifica stocks that have seen big gains and also include some 'bonus countries' that may rally into the rest of 2025. We also talk about crypto markets, which seem to be waking up. This is a great episode for those looking at current opportunities in 2025, with some interesting investment ideas that hardly anyone is talking about.  Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 00:59 - Moving 04:02 - International Investing 06:07 - 10: United Kingdom 08:57 - 9: Hong Kong 10:45 - 8: France 13:21 - 7: Italy 14:34 - 6: Germany 16:38 - 5: Austria 17:56 - 4: Luxembourg 19:53 - 3: Czech Republic 22:14 - 2: Hungary 23:31 - 1: Poland 25:52 - Bonus Countries 29:08 - Crypto & Other Markets 35:28 - The Democrat Response 46:04 - Biggest Take Aways 52:18 - Outro Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/t4KKTSgF3ms Follow us on X: Austin - https://x.com/a_brawn Cody - https://x.com/CodyShirk

On this episode of the Adventure Capitalist, Cody and Austin dive into the next five potential global conflicts that could reshape the world. Featuring expert insights from Dr. Sean McFate and Ray Powell, they unpack the escalating tensions in the Middle East, Africa’s volatile Sahel region, and the Indo-Pacific’s strategic flashpoints. Dr. McFate breaks down Iran-Israel dynamics, Syria’s fallout, and the Sahel’s brewing crises, while Ray Powell reveals China’s aggressive moves in the South China Sea, the Philippines’ struggle, and Taiwan’s precarious future. Learn how Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand are navigating this high-stakes geopolitical chessboard. From U.S. strategic missteps to China’s bold tactics, this episode is a must-watch for understanding global security in 2025. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 01:15 - Cody on break 05:19 - 50 Mile walk update 06:43 - Turning point of the world 13:31 - Welcome back Dr. Sean McFate! 14:05 - The Middle East 23:23 - Landmines to avoid 27:48 - What happened in Syria? 29:20 - What is the Sahel block? 39:11 - Conflict and context 42:20 - Conflict in Africa 45:44 - Consequences of the US pulling back 50:22 - Thanks Dr. Sean McFate! 51:54 - Coming up next: Asia 53:00 - Welcome Ray Powell! 52:36 - Why should we care about the Indo-Pacific? 56:30 - What is going on in Taiwan? 59:04 - China's Strategy 01:06:06 - Red Lining 01:08:09 - Freedom of navigation 01:11:02 - Conflict starters 01:15:56 - US losing ground 01:19:26 - Mistakes President Xi is making 01:22:28 - US relations in East Asia 01:27:12 - What happened in South Korea? 01:34:20 - How would China "Hong Kong" Taiwan? 01:38:45 - Thank you Ray Powell! 01:39:42 - Recap 01:44:37 - Outro Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/90CZpXYpUuc Follow us on X: Austin - https://x.com/a_brawn Cody - https://x.com/CodyShirk

On this episode of the Adventure Capitalist, we debate President Trump's first 100 days in office. We break down the highs and lows with candid insights like the major wins in DOGE, deregulation, falling inflation, and a push for peace, to challenges like messy messaging, tariff rollouts, and the Signal Gate controversy - we cover it all. We also explore what's too early to judge: long-term tariffs, the Department of Education's fate, USAID dismantling, and crypto's future. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 01:13 - Cody has some changes... 04:11 - 50-mile walk update 05:52 - Trump's first 100 days 08:08 - The good things 16:30 - Win: DOGE and deregulation 22:30 - Win: Inflation is down 24:44 - Win: Push for peace 31:19 - Win: Investments in America 35:21 - Win: Women in women's sports 38:03 - Bad: Trump's messaging  41:23 - Bad: Tariff rollout 51:10 - Bad: Signal Gate 54:01 - Too early to tell: Long-term tariffs 59:14 - Too early to tell: Department of Education 01:02:15 - Too early to tell: Dismantling USAID 01:05:39 - Too early to tell: Crypto 01:16:05 - Wrapping up 01:19:03 - Outro Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/CaWCZvTiOF0 Follow us on X: Austin - https://x.com/a_brawn Cody - https://x.com/CodyShirk

On this episode of the Adventure Capitalist Podcast, Austin Brawner and Cody Shirk are joined by Rear Admiral Mike Studeman (Ret.), author of Might of the Chain: Forging Leaders of Iron Integrity. In this in-depth interview, the retired two-star Navy admiral shares insights from his 35-year career leading intelligence operations and his book’s unique storytelling approach to leadership. From navigating language barriers and mastering Mandarin to tackling today’s leadership crisis, Studeman discusses core values, integrity in U.S. history, and the search for the next great American leader. He also offers practical advice on handling ethical grey areas, balancing work and life, and inspiring young people to lead with purpose. Dive into this episode to get inspired about where the world is going and learn about the upcoming challenges that we face! Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 01:13 - Welcome Mike! 02:57 - Challenge of a language barrier 05:36 - Learning about China through the Chinese language 07:24 - Lack of leadership today 09:09 - What are your core values? 14:47 - Integrity in US History 22:29 - Is the next "Washington" on the way? 32:14 - How to deal with the Grey Area 36:40 - Allies or Foes? 43:07 - Work-life balance 49:57 - Learning away from America 54:00 - Advice to young people 01:00:19 - Literature as a moral compass 01:03:52 - The next chapter 01:08:00 - Outro 📕 Get Might of the Chain: https://www.mikestudeman.com  📱 Follow Mike Studeman on X: https://x.com/MikeStudeman Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/V_ESNP3mLsg Follow us on X: Austin - https://x.com/a_brawn Cody - https://x.com/CodyShirk

Adam Rossi, engineer, adventurer, and CEO of Total Shield, shares his journey from software entrepreneur to manufacturing leader. He discusses the challenges and opportunities of U.S. manufacturing, emphasizing the importance of domestic production. Rossi highlights innovative approaches to workforce training and advocates for a renewed focus on vocational education. He also dives into exciting plans for future adventures and reflects on building a lasting legacy for generations to come, blending innovation with personal growth.

In this episode of the Adventure Capitalist Podcast, Austin Brawner and Cody Shirk dive deep into an engaging conversation with Nat Eliason. In this episode, Nat shares the secrets behind his unique "Vibe Coding" philosophy and its origin story. We explore his expert thoughts on SaaS multiples and the future of software companies, offering insights for tech enthusiasts and entrepreneurs. Nat opens up about his personal journey, from his learning process to crafting his upcoming sci-fi fiction book, and reflects on the profound value writing brings to his life. We also discuss his sobriety journey, the importance of risk-taking in success, and how concepts shape achievement. Plus, get an insider’s look into the business of bookselling and Nat’s experience writing about crypto in his previous work. Whether you're into coding, startups, creative writing, or personal growth, this episode is packed with inspiration and actionable takeaways. Chapters:  00:00 - Intro  01:05 - Welcome Nat! 02:23 - What's Vibe Coding? 12:58 - Origin of Vibe Coding 17:28 - Thoughts on SaaS multiples 22:35 - Future of software companies 23:54 - Nats' learning process 32:48 - The writing process 45:36 - What value does writing have? 52:44 - Sobriety 59:44 - Importance of risk-taking 01:04:57 - Concepts and success 01:09:47 - Business of bookselling 01:21:51 - Outro Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/HtV9OM8LJDY Follow us on X: Austin - https://x.com/a_brawn Cody - https://x.com/CodyShirk

In this episode of the Adventure Capitalist Podcast, hosts Austin Brawner and Cody Shirk dive deep into the global decline of birthrates and its surprising connection to religiosity. From Sub-Saharan Africa’s booming populations to the shrinking demographics of secular nations like South Korea and Japan, we explore the data, patterns, and outliers—like Israel, Iceland, and Georgia—that challenge the narrative. What role does religion play in shaping fertility, and what does this mean for investors eyeing future opportunities? We also speculate on the future: Can secular societies find meaning without faith, or will religious nations dominate the next century? Join us as we unpack the crisis, debate causation versus correlation, and uncover the untold story of birthrates, faith, and global power. Chapters:  00:00 - Intro 01:10 - Back home 04:21 - Birthrates continued 07:27 - Birthrate and religion 10:31 - Does religion play a factor? 18:03 - Secular vs religious countries' birthrates 24:44 - Countries that are doing something 34:51 - Is religion good or bad for society? 38:08 - Will religion make a comeback? 50:23 - Cody's going to church? 57:18 - The Manosphere 01:03:24 - The men's group of the future 01:07:58 - Outro Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/l_mgZUOPXxs Follow us on X: Austin - https://x.com/a_brawn Cody - https://x.com/CodyShirk