Bourbon with Brad

Anthropic researchers are reportedly walking out over fears frontier AI could be dangerous to humanity — days before the company announces $80B in new infrastructure. Brad, Eric "Epic" Kowalski, and Lou "Loubricity" Scerbo break down what the walkouts mean and who actually pays for the AI build-out.

Then it gets local (yet still national): the biggest power-plant proposal in the region, the massive AWS data-center park tied to it, and Gov. Shapiro's Local Community Agreement that could redefine how communities negotiate with tech giants. Should Pennsylvania borrow from Norway's sovereign wealth model — or oil-and-gas deal structures — so residents actually see the money?

Eric closes with the frontier-math story: what problems did these models supposedly solve this week, and should you believe it?

This week's pour: Metallica's Blackened bourbon. And a heads-up — next week is our first live episode at Iron City Distilling, featuring our first taste of Bessemer Rye. Subscribe so you don't miss it.

Legal Disclaimer:

The views & opinions shared on the Podcast are our own & those of our guests. Nothing we discuss should be taken as financial, legal, business, or gambling advice. Don’t make investment, business, or betting decisions based on our conversations as you should always talk to a qualified professional. Listeners must always drink responsibly, never drink & drive, & only consume alcohol if you are of legal drinking age.

Disclosure:

Some of the images in the Podcast were AI generated &/or edited with AI. The cover image was AI generated. The voice overs are original AI generated voices. The theme music is an original instrumental created using AI.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/bourbon-with-brad/donations

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This week on Bourbon with Brad, the guys get treated to two new bourbons thanks to friend of the show Jeff Carty, who shows up with the hard‑to‑find Four Gate. The crew savors it, then rides the rest of the episode with Traveler in their glasses.

The headlines? Absolutely unhinged — in the best way.

Anthropic drops Fable 5.1, promising better performance at a lower cost. OpenAI’s Astra is now reportedly beyond the critical cybersecurity threshold (even though it’s not the model rumored to have broken into Hugging Face weeks ago). Speaking of Hugging Face, they just released a $399 AI‑powered duck with 15 motors, LIDAR, and self‑correction learning, and it’s already sold out.

Meanwhile, the Mayor of New York has banned AI use for all K–8 students, and Brad brings a hilarious story from Taiwan where a suspicious husband decides to spy on his wife using their Roomba.

Then comes the experiment the guys have been waiting for: a full‑blown AI debate on AI. They assign ChatGPT and Gemini opposing positions on the pros and cons of AI — and even bring in a third AI to weigh in. The results are fascinating, weird at times, and surprisingly insightful.

Finally, in The Fifth Segment, the tone shifts as the guys dig into the real risks AI may soon pose to humanity. It’s thoughtful, sobering, and exactly the kind of conversation this show was built to tackle with friends and a great bourbon in hand.

Pour a glass of your favorite bourbon and settle in — this episode is one for the books. Cheers.

Legal Disclaimer:

The views & opinions shared on the Podcast are our own & those of our guests. Nothing we discuss should be taken as financial, legal, business, or gambling advice. Don’t make investment, business, or betting decisions based on our conversations as you should always talk to a qualified professional. Listeners must always drink responsibly, never drink & drive, & only consume alcohol if you are of legal drinking age.

Disclosure:

Some of the images in the Podcast were AI generated &/or edited with AI. The cover image was AI generated. The voice overs are original AI generated voices. The theme music is an original instrumental created using AI.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/bourbon-with-brad/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Brad uncorks this week’s biggest AI stories with a pour of Baby Jane bourbon and a lineup that swings from global tech drama to hometown legacy. He breaks down Meta’s massive $17.2B settlement with 29 states over allegedly addictive platform design for kids, the wild tale of a Chinese farmer who lost 25 acres of sesame crops after trusting an AI chatbot’s herbicide advice, and Nvidia’s warning that server costs are jumping 15% — a signal of what’s coming next in the AI arms race.

Then the conversation shifts from silicon to soil as Brad and the guys welcome an Indiana County icon: Kevin Musser of Musser Nurseries. Kevin shares how the nursery began, how it helped crown Indiana County the Christmas Tree Capital of the World, how the business evolved into new crops, and what technologies (if any) Musser Nurseries uses today.

In segments four and five, Lou “Loubricity” Scerbo and Eric “Epic” Kowalski join Brad to test Kevin’s optimum Loubricity level and revisit his days as a professional motocross rider — a story you don’t want to miss.

Pour your favorite bourbon, settle in, and enjoy a blend of sharp AI insight, local history, and great company.

Legal Disclaimer:

The views & opinions shared on the Podcast are our own & those of our guests. Nothing we discuss should be taken as financial, legal, business, or gambling advice. Don’t make investment, business, or betting decisions based on our conversations as you should always talk to a qualified professional. Listeners must always drink responsibly, never drink & drive, & only consume alcohol if you are of legal drinking age.

Disclosure:

Some of the images in the Podcast were AI generated &/or edited with AI. The cover image was AI generated. The voice overs are original AI generated voices. The theme music is an original instrumental created using AI.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/bourbon-with-brad/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week on Bourbon with Brad, the gang is fired up to welcome the breakout country group County Fair as Max Gall and Sav roll into the studio on the cusp of their cross‑country RV music tour. They open up about how they met, the first kiss that sparked everything, the wild decision to sell nearly everything they owned, buy an RV, and chase their music across America. The surprises don’t stop there because County Fair treats Brad and the crew to an unforgettable impromptu acoustic session, complete with the backstories behind their fan‑favorite songs—including their new track Buffalo.

See so much more about County Fair at whereiscountyfair.com!

All of this unfolds while everyone enjoys pours of Penelope Riveria making the conversation even smoother and the music even sweeter. The talent is real, the energy is contagious, and this episode is one you’ll want to savor.

Pour a glass of your favorite bourbon and settle in. Cheers.

Legal Disclaimer:

The views & opinions shared on the Podcast are our own & those of our guests. Nothing we discuss should be taken as financial, legal, business, or gambling advice. Don’t make investment, business, or betting decisions based on our conversations as you should always talk to a qualified professional. Listeners must always drink responsibly, never drink & drive, & only consume alcohol if you are of legal drinking age.

Disclosure:

Some of the images in the Podcast were AI generated &/or edited with AI. The cover image was AI generated. The voice overs are original AI generated voices. The theme music is an original instrumental created using AI.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/bourbon-with-brad/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The guys pour of New Riff 8‑year courtesy of of their great friend John Mock, and the bourbon pairs perfectly with a lineup of AI headlines that feel straight out of sci‑fi. Anthropic shocks the industry by watermarking every piece of text Claude generates worldwide. A shareholder lawsuit hits Microsoft’s board, accusing leadership of hiding Copilot’s proprietary capabilities and bottlenecks. And a fresh federal bill drops proposing a tiered excise tax on AI token usage to bankroll a new Work Protection Agency.

With Lou “Loubricity” Scerbo out this week, the guys keep things lively as they talk about the massive data‑center boom happening everywhere, including right down the road from the bourbon studio. Perry unveils his AI bourbon‑rating project, and the conversation spirals into a big question: What happens when AI helps humans live to 200 and even reverses aging?

Pour your favorite bourbon and join us as this episode is a ride.

Legal Disclaimer:

The views & opinions shared on the Podcast are our own & those of our guests. Nothing we discuss should be taken as financial, legal, business, or gambling advice. Don’t make investment, business, or betting decisions based on our conversations as you should always talk to a qualified professional. Listeners must always drink responsibly, never drink & drive, & only consume alcohol if you are of legal drinking age.

Disclosure:

Some of the images in the Podcast were AI generated &/or edited with AI. The cover image was AI generated. The voice overs are original AI generated voices. The theme music is an original instrumental created using AI.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/bourbon-with-brad/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy