Best Nate Ragolia Podcasts (2025)

1
You Are Not the Villain w Nate Ragolia 47:23

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13d ago47:23

47:23

What if the story running your life isnâ��t yours at all? Author and publisher Nate Ragolia (Brink Literacy Project) joins us to talk about how the stories we inheritâ��about who we are, what we deserve, and what weâ��re capable ofâ��shape everything. From teaching creative writing in prisons to publishing comics by people society wrote off, Nateâ�…

1
First Credit Card (1950) 2:01:35

13d ago2:01:35

2:01:35

Imagine, you've taken your clients out to an unforgettable luncheon and... *pat* *pat* *pat*... you don't have your wallet, or any cash, or even your checkbook! How mortifying!? Whatever will you do? Well... you invent a new way to pay that fundamentally alters the economy and complicates everyone's lives... FOREVER. We're talking about the FIRST C…

1
First Independent Kesha Record / First Crossover with In Defense of Kesha (2025) with Kylan Savage and Valentine Hellman 2:36:02

27d ago2:36:02

2:36:02

We only podcast when we're happy and we're podcasting right now! Kylan Savage and Valentine Hellman (hosts of the In Defense of Kesha podcast) guest for a special extra long ep where we experience the new Kesha album Period, which happens to be Kesha's first indie record on her own label. It's also our first crossover with In Defense of Kesha, and …

1
Know Thy Enemies w Sonia Van Meter 1:11:40

27d ago1:11:40

1:11:40

Whatâ��s the worst possible headline someone could write about you, using nothing but public records? Thatâ��s opposition research. Sonia Van Meter, managing partner of Stanford Campaigns, shows us how to use itâ��to your prosperity â�¦ or to your peril. Key Topics What opposition research really is (and isnâ��t) Why oppo is about narrative, not â�…

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First Baz Luhrmann Film (1992) 1:51:35

1M ago1:51:35

1:51:35

Before Romeo + Juliet... Before Moulin Rouge!... Before Elvis... One Baz Luhrmann film started it all by being his FIRST... And that film is titled Strictly Ballroom. It's a charming and delightful ballroom dancing competition underdog finding yourself and falling in love kind of movie. Join us as we talk about it, and how it came to be! Plus, we g…

1
Reputation Warfare w Simon Paterson 1:11:44

1M ago1:11:44

1:11:44

What do extremists, trolls, and corporate boardrooms have in common? Theyâ��re all in the business of narrative warfare. Simon Paterson went from â��smiting the Queenâ��s enemiesâ�� in UK military intelligence to advising Fortune 100 companies on how not to get wrecked by disinfo. Turns out: memes, lies, and smear campaigns can be just as effective…

1
First Comedy Central Presents (1998) 1:55:09

2M ago1:55:09

1:55:09

Comedy Central Presents ran for 15 season, amassing 283 episodes, but it all started on December 1, 1998 when Wanda Sykes(-Hall, at the time) took the stage to talk oral sex, Bill Clinton, O.J., big lies that you never stop telling, and much more. Join us as we partake in the First Comedy Central Presents and debate everything from what holds up to…

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Schoolhouse Warfare w Gus Kangas 46:53

2M ago46:53

46:53

Can Cartoons Save Democracy? What do Broadway, the CIA, and Hollywood have in common? For Gus Kangas, the answer is tradecraft. From child actor to CIA operations veteran to Hollywood consultant (most recently on The Agency), Gus has lived at the intersection of performance, persuasion, and perception. Now heâ��s using that experience to ask a big …

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"First," the Internet Comments Section Meme (1997) 1:57:44

2M ago1:57:44

1:57:44

Remember the old days of the internet when you went to a website from your bookmarks, read an article or review or essay or story, and then made your way down to the comments, where a rational and considerate discussion was happening? Then, one day, people started trying to have the FIRST comment in the comment section by commenting "First!" And fr…

1
Heroes Everywhere w Adam Bird 29:25

2M ago29:25

29:25

What does it mean to be a hero? We throw the word around a lot â�� soldiers, firefighters, nurses, neighbors, even SpongeBob. But what happens when our definitions clash? When one sideâ��s â��heroâ�� is the other sideâ��s â��villainâ��? On this episode of MAD Warfare, we dig into hero narratives â�� how they inspire, unite, recruitâ�¦ and yes, how …

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First James Gunn Superman Movie (2025) 2:07:56

3M ago2:07:56

2:07:56

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a podcast! We burst into the feed with a special episode on the First James Gunn Superman Movie, 2025's Superman! We also want to know what you've done with the dog! Then it's all talk of hunks, kindness, quality acting, cuteness, good jokes, earnest people, and controversies in our quest to embrace the punk rock nat…

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Free Your Mind w Devsena Mishra 1:01:23

3M ago1:01:23

1:01:23

Some of the best mind-hacking tech on the planet was invented before electricity. No code. No bots. No blue check. Just ancient mental engineering â�� sharp enough to survive empires, con men, and mass hysteria. Devsena Mishra knows it well. Sheâ��s been inside national security and the hidden rooms where influence campaigns are wired together. She…

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First Anime Film to Win an Oscar (2001) with Matt Mayes 2:17:07

3M ago2:17:07

2:17:07

Don't. Eat. Their. Food. Who doesn't love an abandoned amusement park? What's so stinky about a stink spirit? When will No Face find a friend? Can Chihiro make it back home or will she remain, forever... SPIRITED AWAY? On this ep, we dig into Hayao Miyazaki's unparalleled perfect film, and the first ever anime film to win an Academy Award. Join us …

1
Remote Warrior with Tanner Yackley 37:16

3M ago37:16

37:16

What happens when war becomes a desk job? You wake up in Vegas. Sit down in a box. Fly a drone over Afghanistan. Watch your target for weeksâ��when he feeds his goats, when he hugs his wifeâ��and then one day, you get the call: Clear to Strike. Then you go home. Eat dinner. And donâ��t talk about it. Former drone operator and founder of Remote Warr…

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First Baseball Walk-Up Song (1970, 1992) 1:44:50

4M ago1:44:50

1:44:50

For generations, the only sounds at a Major League ballpark were the crowd, the crack of the bat, or the slap of a ball smacking a glove. Then in 1941, we got organs, and an historical journey began. With music, fans were more engaged than ever... and in 1970, one woman joined the Chicago White Sox and brought her musical skill and razor wit to the…

1
XX Threat w Elizabeth Tate 51:10

4M ago51:10

51:10

Think warfare is just brute strength and bullets? HA! Thatâ��s a national security FAIL. Elizabeth Tateâ��author of Control Your Scroll and a consultant in psychology, communications, and organizational changeâ��joins us to talk about the underestimated force of girlhood, social media, and so-called soft skills in shaping national and global power.…

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First Roddy Piper Lead Movie Role (1988) 2:00:37

4M ago2:00:37

2:00:37

It began with a disagreement, and it led to the near total decimation of life on Earth. Those who survived hoped to rebuild society, but they faced foes in the forms of sterility and mutant frogpeople. Then came Sam Hell, and where he came was to Frogtown, and we won't touch the other obvious play on that verb. We're talking about the First Roddy P…

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Hack the Algo w Swapneel Mehta 1:04:42

4M ago1:04:42

1:04:42

FREE SPEECH, NOT FREE REACH â�� Hacking the Algorithm for Good with Dr. Swapneel Mehta We know the algorithm is messing with us. But what if we could mess with it back? In this episode, weâ��re joined by machine learning scientist and digital trust builder Dr. Swapneel Mehta, whoâ��s worked at Twitter, Adobe, Slack, CERN, and MITâ��and now leads SI…

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First Legend of Zelda (1986) with Drew Kebbel 2:22:46

5M ago2:22:46

2:22:46

It's dangerous to go alone... Take this podcast! But make sure you've got your boomerang, bombs, heart containers, bow and arrow, faeries, map, candle, and sword with you because the Triforce ain't just for listening to... it's for assembling! In 1986, Nintendo released a golden game that altered the very idea of home gaming and cross-over media...…

1
Protect Ya Neck w Sam Carus: How to Train Your Brain Like a Black Belt 50:46

5M ago50:46

50:46

Ep 009: PROTECT YA NECK: How to Train Your Brain Like a Black Belt with Sam Carus What do martial arts, PSYOPs, and surviving a near-death experience have in common? Itâ��s (nearly) all in your head. In this episode, we sit down with Sam Carusâ��lifelong martial artist, special operations veteran, and founder of Randori Resourcesâ��to explore what …

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First X-Files Episode Directed By A Woman (2000) 1:57:49

5M ago1:57:49

1:57:49

It took seven seasons, but it finally happened with Gillian Anderson's writing and directing debut, "all things". The FIRST X-FILES EPISODE DIRECTED BY A WOMAN is a poetic meditation on coincidence, circumstance, Buddhism, transcendence and healing. It's got a soundtrack featuring 90s electronic stalwart Moby. And Mulder goes to Stonehenge in it! P…

1
Humor is Warfare w Solvita Denisa_Liepniece 52:55

5M ago52:55

52:55

They say to understand power, follow the money. But what if insteadâ�¦ you followed the comedy? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Solvita Denisa Liepniece, a strategic communication expert who coined the term â��hahagandaâ�� to describe how authoritarian regimes use humor to influence, manipulate, and erase. ð��¶â��ð��«ï¸� We cover: â�� How Kre…

1
First Roller Coaster (16th Century, 1884) 1:59:41

6M ago1:59:41

1:59:41

What began as "Russian Mountains" evolved across Europe, and eventually, found their way to the good ol' U.S. of A... In 1884, one man wanted to use his vast fortune--NO! Not to help anyone!--to keep a recently re-unioned American population from getting too drunk, too horny, and too gambly... So he built himself a roller coaster, and with it, he m…

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Socially Acceptable Assassinations 49:59

6M ago49:59

49:59

How do you measure the success of a kill shot? A character cancellation? A diss track that hits harder than a drone strike? Itâ��s never as simple as â��target down.â�� But thatâ��s often how success gets measured in warâ��and in culture. Short-term wins. Long-term fallout. No real accounting for what stories weâ��re cementing along the way. So in …

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CROW INTERFERENCE 1:19

6M ago1:19

1:19

Hitchcock warned us. We didn't listen. Perhaps the bags can save us. madwarfare.comBy MAD Warfare

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First David Lynch Film (1977) with Michael J. O'Connor 2:09:37

6M ago2:09:37

2:09:37

It's a fever dream, a dream about a fever, and a fever about a dream. On this episode, we're joined by guest and friend of the pod, Michael J. O'Connor as we talk about 1977's Eraserhead--the FIRST DAVID LYNCH FILM. We're talking strange babies (critters), tall hair, pipes all over town, and next door neighbors. Really, the episode defies a single …

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Ep 006: Make Me Famous with Shane Morris 1:09:25

6M ago1:09:25

1:09:25

The guy who helped Travis Scott go viral breaks down the fame machine and modern influence warfare. What if your favorite artist got famous not because of talent, but because a guy in a mullet built a botnet in his basement? This week on MAD Warfare, Shane Morris (see: botnet guy) joins us to break down the brutal mechanics of fame, manipulation, a…

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First Ultramarathon (1974) with Cabe Waldrop 2:02:59

6M ago2:02:59

2:02:59

Running. You might say it's like walking but faster... Now imagine running for 26.2 miles! That would be a marathon, right? Sure. Now double it. 52.4 miles!? That would qualify as an ultramarathon! But we're not stopping there. Special guest, Cabe Waldrop, tells us a little story about a man named Gordy Ainsleigh who ran 100 miles (in a race for HO…

1
Spycraft for Smarter Decisions 1:04:29

7M ago1:04:29

1:04:29

Drowning in data? Wondering what's REAL? Let alone whatâ��s worth acting on? Well well well, YOUâ��RE IN LUCK, dear Mad Stans. Because todayâ��s guest is none other than intelligence analysis trainer Jeremy Levinâ��here to show you how the pros separate signal from noise (and maybe save society while theyâ��re at it). Come for the stories from real…

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First Disney Animated Feature Film (1937) 2:36:46

7M ago2:36:46

2:36:46

She's the fairest but she isn't always the brightest. We get into the making of and nitty gritty details of 1937's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the FIRST DISNEY ANIMATED FEATURE FILM. As we talk plot and marvel at this animated classic, we also ask the hard questions: Did inhaling a bar of soap kill Dopey? Is Grumpy just a misogynist? What kind…

1
Dude Where's My Organoid? with Chris Acha 50:30

7M ago50:30

50:30

If you could replicate your own brain, what would you have it do? And if everyone could do it (even your worst nemeses) ... what could POSSIBLY GO WRONG. Buckle up, because this is when "what if" turns into "what's next." In this episode, Chris Achaâ��our big brained tiny organoid maestroâ��takes us on a wild tour inside the fascinating world of br…

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First TIME LIFE Mysteries of the Unknown Book (1987) 2:17:18

7M ago2:17:18

2:17:18

In the mid-1980s a publishing conglomerate named for two of America's most popular magazines, TIME and LIFE, put together a 33-volume series exploring aliens, psychic powers, magic and more. Mysteries of the Unknown kicked off its series with a little book titled MYSTIC PLACES, and within you could delve into theories about Atlantis, the Great Pyra…

1
Unconventional Healing ft. Dr. Rebecca Nicholson 1:04:15

8M ago1:04:15

1:04:15

Ready to have your mind blown? In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Nicholson turns the battlefield of conflict into a playground of transformation. She reveals how spiritual experiences can flip the script on warfare and mend our fractured human spirit, all while keeping things intriguingly unexpected. Get ready to uncover the secret sauce behind unconven…

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First Nonconsecutive U.S. Presidency (1885-1889, 1893-1897) 1:53:15

8M ago1:53:15

1:53:15

In 2025, the United States experienced a rarity... a nonconsecutive U.S. President took office and the nation was shook by just how nonconsecutive it was after more than 100 years of unmitigated consecutiveness. But, this wasn't the first time a President failed to continue being President only to unfail that same continuation four years later. On …

1
Head Games with Al Snow 1:21:39

8M ago1:21:39

1:21:39

If war, business, and politics are about influencing what people think and believe, then pro wrestling might be the greatest training ground of all. Legendary wrestler Al Snow joins us to talk about the art of working a crowd, selling a story, and getting in your head. Listener beware: Once you learn how the game is played, youâ��ll never watch a s…

1
First Televised Trial (1979) 2:09:59

8M ago2:09:59

2:09:59

The U.S. legal system had been trying for a long time... then one day, they were like, "what if people could experience this as a kind of news-entertainment hybrid?" In the days of radio, it was a case of ignorance vs. evolution centered on a man named Scopes. In the days of television, 1979 specifically, a charming narcissist serial killer defende…

1
What is War? (Baby Don't Hurt Me) 39:07

9M ago39:07

39:07

One of the weird things about war these days: ALL OF US are on the battlefieldâ��even if we didnâ��t realize it. Didnâ��t sign up for this? We know. War is sneaky like that. But here you are, caught in the fight over what you think, believe and do. In this first episode of MAD Warfare, we fire our opening salvo of ideas on how to define war, why co…

1
First Valentine's Day (Ancient Rome, 496 AD) 2:10:11

9M ago2:10:11

2:10:11

Do you smell that? Chocolate. Roses. Some special occasion fragrance. And, of course, the dewy marinara of a romantic pizza tarp! It's Valentine's Day and that's LOVE you're smelling on the air. A smell so potent that this episode is all about the FIRST VALENTINE'S DAY! Was it always about buying stuff for your paramour? We'll let you know, but onl…

1
First Ghost Busters (1975) 2:11:35

9M ago2:11:35

2:11:35

There's been somethin' strange in the neighborhood for longer than you might realize! I bet you didn't even know who to call, or how to call them. Hint: At least once, you call a Gorilla using a talking-self-destructible fish. On this episode, Chelsea, Kelly, and Nate put on their jumpsuits, grab their De-Materializers, and discuss 1975's The Ghost…

1
First #1 Pink Floyd Album (1973) with Steve Livingston 1:56:56

10M ago1:56:56

1:56:56

While we obviously do Debut Buddies for the Money, what really drives us is the ceaselessness of Time and maybe a little Brain Damage. It's not just Us and Them, either, a whole host of folks are preparing for The Great Gig in the Sky. We discuss Pink Floyd's FIRST #1 RECORD, The Dark Side of the Moon with special guest writer and educator, Steve L…

1
First Woman Elected Mayor / Female Elected Official (1887) with Julia Clausen 1:58:56

10M ago1:58:56

1:58:56

Sometimes a FIRST isn't something that's sought, but something that seeks you. Back in 1887, Susanna M. Salter became the First Woman Elected Mayor in the U.S. and it's a heck of a story. Join us, and special guest Julia Clausen (Book Club with Julia & Victoria) as we unravel and unwind, and manage to discuss Susanna Salter's story. Plus, we touch …

1
First Craft (30,000 - 29,000 BC) 1:52:27

11M ago1:52:27

1:52:27

Crafts... they're fun, they're hands-on, they're practical and evolutionary. And they had to start somewhere. We take our Debut Buddies Time Machine back to 30,000 BC to discuss the FIRST CRAFT(S)! Maybe it was pottery, maybe it was weaving and looming, but one thing's for sure, we each tried to do a craft and some of us (Chelsea and Kelly) succeed…

1
First Beetlejuice Sequel (2024) 2:09:18

11M ago2:09:18

2:09:18

**SPOILERS** for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice! (You've been warned! <3) In 1988, someone said an undead name thrice and we never forgot about it. And 36 years later, someone said it thrice again... twice... and a movie was born, yet again. We discuss Tim Burton's new film Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, its past, its present, its maybe future. And then we talk…

1
First Bird (Jurassic Period, 1861) 1:49:08

12M ago1:49:08

1:49:08

It's a plane, it's Superman... it's a... BIRD! Let's take Ye Olde Timed Machinerium back to the Jurassic Period shall we? It's time to for the Debut Buddies to find the FIRST BIRD. This "ancient wing" hung out mostly in Germany, probably listening to Kraftwerk, but now it's a fossil and--boy--are we feeling paleontological! After digging into our n…

1
First Levi's Jeans (1873) 2:14:05

12M ago2:14:05

2:14:05

PANTS! They were essential to Western Expansion in the 1800s... but damn if they didn't suffer frequent "blow outs" to the pockets and crotch! That's embarrassing! Luckily, a tailor named Jacob Davis took up the challenge to reinforce denim and found a partner in a certain famed jean magnate, way before he was even a jeans gent! Fast forward to tod…

1
First New York City Subway (1869) 1:42:41

1y ago1:42:41

1:42:41

In 1869, a crew secretly dug a tunnel under Broadway in Manhattan. That tunnel became a huge attraction that proved scientific potential, supporting Civil War orphans, and eventually fell into disrepair. On this episode, we discuss the First New York City Subway and its creator, Alfred Ely Beach, who was one of those few-and-far-between Good Dudes …

1
First Quentin Tarantino Film (1992) with Eric Weintraub 1:56:09

1y ago1:56:09

1:56:09

A colorfully named cast of suited criminals with equally colorful vocabularies walk into a diamond heist... If you haven't heard this one before, you'll want to check out 1992's Reservoir Dogs, the first film by Quentin Tarantino. With special guest, Eric Weintraub, author of the books South of Sepharad, and Dreams of an An American Exile, we Buddi…

1
First Labor Union (1794, 1838) 2:09:53

1y ago2:09:53

2:09:53

Let's talk about labor, their trials and travails, their battles with oppressive and abusive employers, their wresting from beneath the boots of all systems monarchical, oligarchical, and industrial. On this episode we dive into the First Labor Union, with special appearance by Weavers, Cordwainers, Blanketeers, Spenceans, and more. Join us because…

1
First Found Footage Film (1961, 1980) 2:06:54

1y ago2:06:54

2:06:54

If a footage falls in the woods and no one finds it, is it ever even really a movie at all? On this episode, we dig into the First Found Footage Film, 1961's brilliant indie THE CONNECTION. We also discuss the oft mislabeled First Found Footage Film, 1980's CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST (about 1:10 - 1:30). **Trigger Warning: sexual violence, animal cruelty.*…

1
First Manic Pixie Dream Girl (2007) 2:18:17

1y ago2:18:17

2:18:17

Back in 2007, a review of Cameron Crowe's ELIZABETHTOWN on a little website called The A.V. Club set off a cultural firestorm by birthing the term "Manic Pixie Dream Girl". On this episode of Debut Buddies, we get into the origins of (and problems with) the term, discuss the original MPDG in question (as played in the film by Kirsten Dunst), and co…