
The Adventure Capitalist
Austin Brawner and Cody Shirk tell stories that inspire you to think, invest, and live differently. Sometimes they bring investors, entrepreneurs, and other adventurers to join them.
Latest episodes

Jun 26, 2025 • 57min
Middle East Chaos, Bitcoin's Real Estate Takeover?, NYC's Communist Mayor = Bullish Florida?
This week, Cody and Austin discuss the ideas they got wrong, and what they got right with the chaos that has been unfolding in the Middle East. Then, they dive into the crypto markets and explain how Bitcoin is becoming a major tool for global finance. They also talk about how crypto will be entering the US real estate market in a very big way. Finally, they wrap up the episode by debating what will happen in New York City with the possibility that the new mayor could be a communist - long Florida real estate anyone? Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 07:56 - War Trades 13:07 - The endless war 18:19 - The Qatar issue 26:34 - Crypto markets 30:06 - Bitcoin and mortgages 39:27 - NYC Mayor race 56:26 - Outro Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/LVjXWtsrN1s Follow us on X: Austin - https://x.com/a_brawn Cody - https://x.com/CodyShirk

Jun 19, 2025 • 47min
Israel - Iran War: Investments You NEED to Know!
As the conflict between Israel and Iran escalates, new opportunities and risks are uncovering themselves everyday. In this episode of The Adventure Capitalist Cody and Austin discuss the numerous first order consequences that investors will face as the conflict in the Middle East continues to spiral out of control. Later in the episode they discuss second and third order trickle down effects that will begin to develop in the coming months and years. For those who understand that conflict and chaos creates opportuntities, this is a must listen episode! Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 01:16 - Austin in Cancun 03:14 - Changes in the world... 07:21 - Opportunities to come from Israel-Iran conflict 13:14 - Shipping 16:03 - Tire manufacturers 18:30 - Airlines 21:51 - Private military firms 24:21 - Second order consequences for other countries 31:42 - Most negatively and positively impacted industries in US 43:35 - What are your ideas? We want to hear! 44:48 - Outro Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/G1MdsJlyVaQ Follow us on X: Austin - https://x.com/a_brawn Cody - https://x.com/CodyShirk

Jun 12, 2025 • 46min
China's Bioweapon Threat, LA Riots Chaos, and US Markets are Bubbly!
In this episode of The Adventure Capitalist, Cody and Austin spar over the LA riots and what they mean for California and the US. But first, they discuss the new war strategies that China is using around the world, which includes espionage within Russia and Ukraine, and possible bioweapons within the United States. Towards the end of the episode, they discuss the expensive US market and the recent skirmish between Trump and Musk. Enjoy! Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 01:06 - Welcome, Cody's newborn! 03:25 - China & Russia Disputes 09:39 - Chinese Citizen Bioweapon to US 17:44 - LA Riots 37:08 - Market Updates 42:32 - Elon vs Trump 45:30 - Outro Listen to this episode as a podcast: Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0JJz3zm9VxxnRh6ClSdchJ iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-adventure-capitalist/id1753175673 Follow us on X: Austin - https://x.com/a_brawn Cody - https://x.com/CodyShirk

Jun 5, 2025 • 45min
Germany & Russia Repeating History? The Scary Similarities Unfolding in Real Time
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

May 29, 2025 • 40min
Inside the War to Energize Our Future - ft. Ernest Scheyder
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

May 22, 2025 • 1h 6min
US Credit Crisis = Investment Opportunity?, New US Diplomacy, & Crypto Pumping
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.

May 15, 2025 • 53min
Top 10 Booming Markets of 2025 (so far!) - The Countries & Stocks You Need to Know
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

May 8, 2025 • 1h 45min
5 Potential Global Wars: Iran vs. Israel, Africa’s Sahel Crisis, and the South China Sea Power Play
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

May 1, 2025 • 1h 20min
Trump's First 100 Days: The Good, The Bad, and The Uncertain
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

Apr 25, 2025 • 1h 11min
How to Overcome America's Integrity & Leadership Vacuum - ft. Mike Studeman
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