Best Kevin Yi Podcasts (2025)

1
Part 2: How to Write and Publish Your First Book in 30 Days - Frameworks, First Lines, and the Craft of Storytelling 45:43

23h ago45:43

45:43

Notes from James: The biggest lie about writing is that it takes years. I’ve written multiple books in less than a month—including bestsellers. With the right system, anyone can do this. In this episode, I break down how to structure your first book and why your life experience, not your grammar, is your superpower. You’ll also hear my take on AI w…

1
How to write and publish your book in 30 days: Part 1 - The Foundation of a Successful Writing Life 39:19

3d ago39:19

39:19

Notes from James: I’ve written 25 books—some huge hits, some total flops—and what I’ve learned is this: anyone can write a book, but not everyone gives themselves permission to start. This episode is the foundation. I break down the mindset, motivation, and structure you need to go from blank page to published book—even if you’ve never written a wo…

1
Bitcoin Meets Gold: Sunny Ray on Tokenization’s Future 1:01:04

10d ago1:01:04

1:01:04

A Note from James: Sunny Ray is working on an incredible project involving Bitcoin and his company, Matador. They’re digitizing gold—turning it into crypto—and he’s a Bitcoin maximalist. That’s different from my stance: I think there are many crypto tokens that are useful for specific purposes. But Sonny’s view is clear—Bitcoin is the foundation. W…

1
Dr. Mehmet Oz (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) on Food, Medicine, and the Future of Healthcare 42:36

12d ago42:36

42:36

A Note from James: So Dr. Oz—television personality turned government official—this is such an interesting thing. He's going to be the new administrator of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, CMS. He’s going to be in charge of all Medicare and Medicaid. What does he know or think about these parts of our government? Medicare and Medicaid…

1
Everything Doctor's & Hospitals are Afraid to Tell You: FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary on How to Negotiate Your Medical Bills, Advocate For Yourself & Restore U.S. Healthcare 1:35:29

13d ago1:35:29

1:35:29

A Note from James: Marty Makary is the new head of the FDA, but he is also an old friend of the podcast. He's been on several times, and it's really important to know how this is going to be a new and different FDA, and it's going to be molded by Marty's very specific opinions about healthcare and the medical industry—and here they are. Episode Des…

1
DataRepublican’s Mission: Uncovering Government Fraud to Save the Country with Determination 44:03

19d ago44:03

44:03

A Note from James: The Data Republican—it almost sounds like a superhero name. And in a way, she is. She’s been single-handedly uncovering massive amounts of government waste and inefficiency. It’s honestly unbelievable. And regardless of whether you're a Democrat, Republican, Independent, or anything else, I think we can all agree: there shouldn’t…

1
EP58: Trumpeter Mark Rapp, Founder of ColaJazz 28:37

23d ago28:37

28:37

Mark Rapp’s resume as a performing artist is impressive enough. He has performed in jazz clubs and festivals around the world from Croatia, Brasil, Austria, Switzerland, and the US, including back-to-back appearances at the 2017 and 2018 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. His celebrated 2009 debut release “Token Tales” earned him DownBeat maga…

1
How to Succeed with Zero Qualifications 1:04:31

24d ago1:04:31

1:04:31

A Note from James: So I gave a little talk at the Full Stack Business Builder Conference. Basically, a conference for entrepreneurs, VCs, technologists, aspiring entrepreneurs. It was more of a Q&A, where the moderator, Peter Satton, asked me questions, but also took questions from the audience. A big concern for many people was, what if I have no …

1
I got a 65-Year Jail Sentence. Then this happened... | Damon West's Story 1:32:12

26d ago1:32:12

1:32:12

A Note from James: Oh my gosh. This guy was thrown in jail for 65 years—and he deserved it. You'll hear about his crimes and misdemeanors. He started as a superstar quarterback, high school and college hero turned meth addict, and eventually became a hardcore RICO gang criminal. Sentenced to essentially life in prison, Damon's story is genuinely on…

1
How to Write Your Own Best-Selling Autobiography: Part 2 – Crafting Your Life Story with Impact 44:31

1M ago44:31

44:31

Notes from James: I don’t care if you’ve never written a word before—if you’ve lived, you have a story worth telling. The people who write the most impactful books aren’t the most famous or the best trained. They’re the ones who tell the truth with clarity and heart. In this episode, I show you how to do exactly that. You’ll learn how to structure …

1
Why You Should Write Your Autobiography (Part 1): Unveiling Your Unique Story 48:44

1M ago48:44

48:44

Notes from James: Here’s the truth: if my great-great-great grandfather had written anything—just 10 pages about his daily life—I’d treasure it like gold. And I promise, your great-grandkids will feel the same about your story. You don’t need to be a celebrity to write something that matters. You just need to be honest. Whether you're sharing how y…

1
EP57: A Tribute to Sam YI 26:43

1M ago26:43

26:43

This extended episode of Music Life & Times pays tribute to Sam Yi, “the guiding light of jazz in Atlanta,” who ran the Churchill Grounds jazz club in Midtown for two decades. Sam passed away on February 3. “His steadfast promotion of jazz music helped artists maintain a sense of belonging and provided listeners with a spot to hear the latest talen…

1
Tariffs Are Freaking Everyone Out—Here’s Why I’m Not Losing Sleep 43:16

1M ago43:16

43:16

A Note from James: I can't think of anything more boring to talk about than tariffs, but right now, I can't think of anything more interesting either. Tariffs are dominating the news, stock markets are crashing, and everyone is scared. Are tariffs good or bad? Is Trump wrecking the economy or saving it? I'm going to address these questions, looking…

1
The Ultimate Guide to Smarter Living: All the Hacks with Chris Hutchins 1:17:18

1M ago1:17:18

1:17:18

A Note from James: Jay, remind me, I've gotta send this episode to my kids because I cannot believe what that guy just told us. Chris Hutchins, he has the "All the Hacks" podcast and so many interesting things at his website, allthehacks.com. But I don't like the word life hack. A lot of that stuff is just BS. But this was legit—from buying gold ba…

1
Discover Sahil Bloom's Secrets: How to Transform Your Life with 5 Types of Wealth 1:01:21

2M ago1:01:21

1:01:21

A Note from James: Sahil Bloom is one of probably the wisest people I've had on the podcast. Young guy just wrote the book, The Five Types of Wealth, and he's talking about time wealth, social wealth, mental wealth, physical wealth, and of course, financial wealth. He’s developed content and techniques he's shared in his newsletter and on Twitter, …

1
EP56: Jazz Funerals 16:53

2M ago16:53

16:53

The recent deaths of jazz promoters and club owners Johnny Scatena and Sam Yi were followed by extensive tributes from the musicians whose careers they enabled and lives they changed. Unique to the music profession, and in particular to jazz, is how the most beloved of their time are sent off with performances of the music they played, or in these …

1
"Nomadic Matt" Kepnes on Traveling the World for $75 a Day 58:02

2M ago58:02

58:02

A Note from James: Is it possible to travel around the world, live around the world, do remote work anywhere you want, and spend just $75 a day or less? When I was younger, I wish I'd tried this. Back then, you probably could have done it for even less, maybe $30 a day! Today's guest, Matt Kepnes—better known as Nomadic Matt—has spent decades trave…

1
Book Chat: "A Taiwanese Eco-Literature Reader" with Ian Rowen 24:50

2M ago24:50

24:50

In this episode, our host, Ti-han, invited one of her co-editors, Dr Ian Rowen, to talk about their forthcoming book publication, A Taiwanese Eco-literature Reader, soon to be published by Columbia University Press. This anthology brings together translations of nine compelling stories from Taiwan, examining Taiwan’s most vibrant literary genre and…

1
Infiltrating Hate: The Secret World of the FBI undercover | Scott Payne 1:13:33

2M ago1:13:33

1:13:33

A Note from James: As you listen to this episode, ask yourself: would you do what my guest Scott Payne did for 28 years? He’s a retired undercover FBI agent who spent nearly three decades infiltrating some of the most dangerous groups in America—white supremacist organizations, outlaw biker gangs, and domestic terror cells. His new book, Code Name:…

1
EP55: The Versatile Jazz Guitarist Dave Frackenpohl 19:18

2M ago19:18

19:18

The versatile Dave Frackenpohl has played in the widest range of groups, from symphonies to nightclub duos, and formats, from commercial rock bands to big bands to touring Broadway musicals to jazz festivals. His life in jazz took off during his 10 years in Rochester, NY, and his reputation as a premier jazz guitarist has grown steadily over more t…

1
Being Authentic as F*ck with Sun Yi 1:51:08

2M ago1:51:08

1:51:08

A Note from James I had such a great conversation with my good friend, Sun Yi on his podcast, called Authentic as F*ck, and I felt like I had to say the full name of the podcast because I wanna be authentic. Authenticity is complex, and being yourself isn't always straightforward. With friends, I'm different than when giving a talk or doing a podca…

1
The Truth about Tariffs: The Ultimate Guide to Busting Inflation Myths 25:27

2M ago25:27

25:27

Notes from James: I’ve been seeing a ton of misinformation lately about tariffs and inflation, so I had to set the record straight. People assume tariffs drive prices up across the board, but that’s just not how economics works. Inflation happens when money is printed, not when certain goods have price adjustments due to trade policies. I explain w…

1
EP54: James Casto, Producer, Home By Dark 23:14

3M ago23:14

23:14

James Casto is a singer-songwriter who expanded his passion beyond his own music to create and continue an annual series of concerts featuring singer-songwriters. Inspired by his time in Nashville, and in particular by a song performed one night by Vince Gill, Casto began developing the concept that has matured into a five-month program annually of…

1
Art Chat: Home and Cetacean Photography, with Ray Chin 33:37

3M ago33:37

33:37

In this episode, our host, Ti-han, invited Ray Chin金磊, a Taiwanese wildlife photographer who pioneered in the field of underwater and cetacean photography. In the last two decades, Ray has travelled from Taiwan to the Pacific islands, then to the Galapagos islands and the Nordic seas to capture breathtaking photos of whales and dolphins. Today, not…

1
How The US can Immediately Eliminate the IRS and get rid of personal income taxes 27:29

3M ago27:29

27:29

Notes from James: What if I told you that we could eliminate the IRS, get rid of personal income taxes completely, and still keep the government funded? Sounds impossible, right? Well, not only is it possible, but historical precedent shows it has been done before. I know what you’re thinking—this sounds insane. But bear with me. The IRS collects $…

1
Is Fort Knox Empty!? | News You Might Have Missed 31:17

3M ago31:17

31:17

A note from James: I love digging into topics that make us question everything we thought we knew. Fort Knox is one of those legendary places we just assume is full of gold, but has anyone really checked? The fact that Musk even brought this up made me wonder—why does the U.S. still hold onto all that gold when our money isn’t backed by it anymore?…

1
From Dreamer to Doer: Who Better Than You? Movie Producer, Will Packer on How to Build Success and Resilience in life. 51:29

3M ago51:29

51:29

A Note from James: Who's better than you? That's the book written by Will Packer, who has been producing some of my favorite movies since he was practically a teenager. He produced Straight Outta Compton, he produced Girls Trip with former podcast guest Tiffany Haddish starring in it, and he's produced a ton of other movies against impossible odds.…

1
EP53: Justin Varnes - Percussionist, Educator 29:14

3M ago29:14

29:14

If you were putting together a jazz combo for the evening—or for the ages—you’d be well served by Justin Varnes on drums. And if you wanted your son or daughter to study with someone who will help them learn to love music as well as play it, again there is Justin Varnes. Based in Atlanta, Justin studied at the University of North Florida and the Ne…

1
How Anyone Can Make Their First Million, James Altucher on My First Exit 1:13:09

3M ago1:13:09

1:13:09

A Note from James: You know what drives me crazy? When people say, "I have to build a personal brand." Usually, when something has a brand, like Coca-Cola, you think of a tasty, satisfying drink on a hot day. But really, a brand is a lie—it's the difference between perception and reality. Coca-Cola is just a sugary brown drink that's unhealthy for …

1
Peter Diamandis: How to Harness the Power of Mindset in The Longevity Guidebook 1:03:00

3M ago1:03:00

1:03:00

A Note from James: I've done about a dozen podcasts in the past few years about anti-aging and longevity—how to live to be 10,000 years old or whatever. Some great episodes with Brian Johnson (who spends $2 million a year trying to reverse his aging), David Sinclair (author of Lifespan and one of the top scientists researching aging), and even Tony…

1
EP52: Kevin Korschgen’s Wheel House Sessions 21:25

4M ago21:25

21:25

Kevin Korschgen, drummer, educator, and the producer of Greenville, South Carolina’s Wheel House sessions talks about his seven years of more than 100 concerts in a small space in Greenville’s arts district he originally rented as a drum rehearsal studio and how it became his concert venue. As rare as the venue, so too are the combinations of music…

1
Quantum Computing 101 with Nicolas Alexandre Roussy Newton & Gavin Brennen 1:06:00

4M ago1:06:00

1:06:00

A Note from James: "I have been dying to understand quantum computing. And listen, I majored in computer science. I went to graduate school for computer science. I was a computer scientist for many years. I’ve taken apart and put together conventional computers. But for a long time, I kept reading articles about quantum computing, and it’s like mag…

1
Book Chat: The Life Story of Father Nguyễn, a Vietnamese Refugee Who Migrated to Taiwan, with Lin Shu-fen 36:45

4M ago36:45

36:45

In this podcast, the host, Lara Momesso, introduces a book she co-edited with Dr Polina Ivanova (University of Bremen) titled Refugees and Asylum Seekers in East Asia: Perspective from Japan and Taiwan (Palgrave MacMillan, 2024), and she interviews one of the authors of the book, Dr Shu-fen Lin, at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University. In this …

1
EP51: Gary Motley, Pianist, Educator, Composer, Arranger 14:31

4M ago14:31

14:31

In anticipation of the 2025 Valentine’s weekend edition of the Emory University Jazz Festival, we talk with Gary Motley, the founding director of Emory’s Jazz Studies program, about his beginnings in music and jazz, some of his associations with other revered jazz musicians, and the upcoming Emory festival where he and his trio will be joined by te…

1
Ranking U.S. Presidents: Who Truly Deserves the Top Spot? 57:47

4M ago57:47

57:47

A Note from James: So we have a brand new president of the United States, and of course, everyone has their opinion about whether President Trump has been good or bad, will be good and bad. Everyone has their opinion about Biden, Obama, and so on. But what makes someone a good president? What makes someone a bad president? Obviously, we want our pr…

1
Inside the JFK Conspiracy: How Brad Meltzer Unearthed a Forgotten Assassination Plot 43:51

4M ago43:51

43:51

A Note from James: Probably no president has fascinated this country and our history as much as John F. Kennedy, JFK. Everyone who lived through it remembers where they were when JFK was assassinated. He's considered the golden boy of American politics. But I didn't know this amazing conspiracy that was happening right before JFK took office. Best-…

1
EP50: The Audience Rewards You 23:06

4M ago23:06

23:06

One of the lessons you learn from performing music is how audiences reward you for your efforts, that is, the joy you get from their appreciation of your music. That’s one of the greatest returns you get from the work you put in learning to play music well. What could be more fun or more gratifying!By Kevin Bales

1
Professional Chat – Working with the most marginalised people in Taiwan, AIDS/HIV and undocumented migrants, with Yi-Fan Feng 40:08

4M ago40:08

40:08

In this episode, our host Lara Momesso interviews Yi-Fan Feng (馮一凡), the Deputy Chief Executive at Harmony Home Taiwan, to discuss the work that Harmony Home has done with some of the most marginalised people in Taiwan: people living with HIV/AIDS and undocumented residents and their children. In this chat, Lara and Yi-Fan explore how more than 40 …

1
Smuggling 101: The Ultimate Guide to Roger Reaves' Journey Through Perilous Adventures 1:30:31

4M ago1:30:31

1:30:31

A Note from James: So, I’m out rock climbing, but I really wanted to take a moment to introduce today’s guest: Roger Reaves. This guy is unbelievable. He’s arguably the biggest drug smuggler in history, having worked with Pablo Escobar and others through the '70s, '80s, and even into the '90s. Roger’s life is like something out of a movie—he spent …

1
EP49: Tribute to Johnny Scatena 36:48

5M ago36:48

36:48

Johnny Catena, the much loved owner of Café 290, Atlanta’s premier music venue for more than 30 years, passed away on November 15, 2024. More than a club owner, Johnny was a lover of music and the musicians who played it. In this extended episode of Music Life and Times, several of Atlanta’s preeminent musicians—Joe Gransden, Kipper Jones, Melvin M…

1
Book Chat: Home and Island Writing in "Bubble War" with Kao Yi-feng 43:14

5M ago43:14

43:14

In this episode, our host, Ti-han, invited a renown Taiwanese sci-fi writer, Kao Yi-feng, to talk about his fictional writings. Yi-feng is known for his way of combining elements of fantasy and magical realism with specific “linguistic features” of Hakka. In our conversation, Yi-feng recounts how his background of living in a Hakka-speaking communi…

1
Trump's Greenland Ambitions: Strategic Necessity or Wild Idea 24:35

5M ago24:35

24:35

A Note from James: "Couldn't believe it was possible. I thought the reality show of Election 2024 could not be beat, but it turns out that was just season one, and season two is incredible. Right now, I don't know whether this is insane or the smartest thing possible. So we're going to figure this out right now. Trump just announced that he wants t…

1
How Fiverr Revolutionized the Gig Economy: Insights from CEO Micha Kaufman 49:29

5M ago49:29

49:29

A Note from James: The world's completely changing. Young people, including my five kids, are no longer planning on that one-job, one-career trajectory where you start at General Motors or Procter & Gamble and retire 45 years later with a gold watch. Instead, they’re hustling. They're building side hustles, working from home, and finding ways to ma…

1
Academic Chat – From Academic Work to Social Impact: A Scholar’s Commitment to Raise Awareness on Migrant Experiences in Taiwan 53:45

5M ago53:45

53:45

In this episode, our host Lara Momesso interviews Dr Isabelle Cockel, an academic based in the UK, to discuss the wider impact of her academic work. Isabelle’s extensive research on marriage and labour migrants in Taiwan has evolved into efforts to raise awareness of migrant issues beyond the academic sphere both in Asia and Europe. She has written…

1
Scribe Media's Resurrection: How Eric Jorgenson Revived a Publishing Giant 55:07

5M ago55:07

55:07

Episode Description: Eric Jorgenson’s story with Scribe Media is one of the rare second chances in business. In this episode, James sits down with Eric to discuss how he saved Scribe from its dramatic downfall, brought it back to stability, and is leading it into a promising future. Eric shares the inner workings of the acquisition, the lessons lea…

1
Jim Rickards: Will AI Destroy the World? 48:54

5M ago48:54

48:54

A Note from James: Money GPT. I mean, we've all heard about the incredible potential of AI, and I’ve shared my optimism about its future in many episodes. But today, we have Jim Rickards back on the show, and he’s here to offer a more skeptical perspective. You might remember our earlier discussion where Jim laid out a masterclass on the economy, i…

1
EP48: Kevin Smith: Bassist Extraordinaire 26:36

5M ago26:36

26:36

Where you find great jazz in Atlanta, there’s a good chance you’ll find Kevin Smith on bass. The Florida State grad became enamored with the instrument early in life, chose in fact, orchestra over band in school because the orchestra had a bass, then became enamored with jazz, hearing it for the first time in person from a group that included Music…

1
Codie Sanchez on How to Become a Main Street Millionaire: The Secrets to Profiting from 'Boring' Businesses 1:49:45

6M ago1:49:45

1:49:45

A Note from James: If my kids asked me, "What is the one podcast we should listen to to create financial security, wealth, whatever?"—this is the one I’d recommend. Codie Sanchez is so smart, thoughtful about business, and open about her journey to success, including the failures she's overcome. Her book, Main Street Millionaire, highlights how the…

1
Book Chat: Home & Queer Writing – "Ghost Town," with Kevin Chen 34:20

6M ago34:20

34:20

In this episode, our host, Ti-han, invited Taiwanese Queer author, Kevin Chen, to talk about his LGBTQ novel, Ghost Town (Europa Editions, 2022) 鬼地方 and its fever worldwide. In our conversation, Kevin shared with us how he first “come out” as a gay writer in Taiwan in the 90s, and how his writings was influenced by key Taiwanese LGBTQ authors and c…

1
EP47: Feel the Burn: Vinnie D'agostino 24:18

6M ago24:18

24:18

On Friday, November 15, 2024, Vinnie D’Agostino led a group of four premier jazz musicians, including our podcaster Kevin Bales on piano, at Atlanta’s Red Light Café for a night of intensity and energy aptly advertised as “Feel the Burn.” Vinnie, who was our featured guest in Episode 16 of Music Life and Times, began his professional music career o…

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Kevin Yi Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen