Competent Man Podcast

• Tom Luongo: Why Gold Might Be Trump’s Secret Weapon

  Tom Bodrovics interviews Tom Luongo, producer of the Gold Goats and Guns newsletter, discussing various economic and political topics. Luongo shares his journey from being summarily let go at Newsmax to launching his successful newsletter. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining objectivity and adaptability in the face of unexpected challenges. A significant portion of the discussion revolves around Luongo's collaboration with Dexter, highlighting their differing approaches to analyzing events. Luongo tends to see linear narratives and cause-and-effect relationships, while Dexter views events more stochastically. Despite their differences, they respect each other's perspectives and have found a productive middle ground in their analysis. The conversation delves into the assassination of Charlie Kirk, with Luongo suggesting it was a message from a higher power, likely aimed at warning Donald Trump. He believes the goal of such chaos is to destabilize society and create an environment where Marxism or nihilistic libertarianism can take hold, both of which he views as anti-civilizational. Luongo also discusses the importance of rebuilding the middle class, particularly through housing and economic policies. He criticizes the current system for making it difficult for young people to enter the housing market and start families. He advocates for the IPO of Fannie and Freddie, arguing that it would help stabilize the housing market and provide more opportunities for younger generations. The interview touches on the role of the Federal Reserve and the potential revaluation of gold, which Luongo believes could significantly impact the economy. He criticizes those who use fear and doom-mongering to gain followers, emphasizing the need for honest and collegial discussions. Luongo concludes by stressing the importance of strengthening local communities and rebuilding civilization from the ground up. He believes that by making small, efficient improvements in our daily lives, we can create a better world for future generations.

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• Vincent Lanci: The Coming Gold Revaluation – China vs America

  During the podcast, Vincent Lanci, a Professor of MBA Finance, Commodity Portfolio Manager, and Publisher of the GoldFix Substack, discussed his concerns about the global economy and the implications for gold. Lanci noted a significant shift in his tone regarding gold, attributing it to a series of events and conversations that led him to believe China might be accelerating its plans to monetize gold. He highlighted China's liberalization of gold ownership and the increasing purchases of gold by Chinese banks, indicating a strategic move by China to diversify its reserves and potentially challenge the US dollar's dominance. Lanci also discussed the geopolitical tensions between the US and China, suggesting that China's patience with the US has worn thin due to Trump's rhetoric and actions. He mentioned China's pushback against US policies and its strategic moves, such as aligning with India and other BRICS countries, as signs of a potential economic war. Lanci believes that the US is in a precarious position, unable to withstand a recession due to high stock valuations and the need to rebuild its manufacturing base. He argued that the US is creating a bubble to avoid a recession, which could lead to a significant economic crisis if China decides to escalate its gold strategy. Lanci also touched on the role of oil in the global economy, noting that the traditional signal of geopolitical tension through oil prices has been broken. He suggested that investors should look at refined products like gasoline and diesel for better indicators of global unrest. Lanci believes that the US is prioritizing inflation over recession, as a recession could lead to a collapse in stock markets and a loss of confidence in the US economy. He advised investors to own a barbell portfolio, with one end focused on stocks and the other on gold and miners, to hedge against potential economic downturns. Lanci also discussed the potential for stablecoins to play a significant role in the global economy, suggesting that they could be used to absorb excess liquidity and support the US dollar. He believes that stablecoins could be a force in the market, but their success will depend on the anchor tenants that adopt them. Lanci also noted the potential for gold to be revalued, which could instill confidence in the metal and lead to further price increases. He suggested that a revaluation of gold could be bullish for the metal, as it would encourage more companies to hold it and potentially lead to further price increases.

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• Doomberg: Is This The End Of NATO?

  In this podcast, Tom Bodrovics interviews Doomberg, the head writer for The Doomberg Team and creator of the Doomberg Substack, to discuss various geopolitical and economic topics. Doomberg begins by analyzing a recent post by Donald Trump about Ukraine, suggesting that Trump's words were sarcastic and aimed at distancing the U.S. from direct involvement in the conflict. Doomberg argues that the mainstream interpretation of Trump's post as a shift in policy is misleading and that Trump is, in fact, disengaging from the Ukraine situation. The conversation then shifts to the broader geopolitical landscape, with Doomberg discussing the increasing military capabilities of countries like Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea, which vastly exceed NATO's current capabilities. He criticizes the Western techno-arrogance that underestimates these countries' advancements and highlights the potential for a catastrophic outcome if the U.S. and its allies underestimate their adversaries. Doomberg also delves into the future of the United Nations (UN) and NATO, suggesting that both organizations may face significant challenges and potential restructuring. He argues that the UN, with 16% of its budget coming from the U.S., may be sleepwalking into a position where it needs to reassess its power and relevance. Similarly, he believes that NATO has run its course and that the U.S. will focus more on the Western hemisphere, rebuilding its military supply chains, and re-industrializing. The discussion then turns to the energy sector, with Doomberg critiquing the green energy transition as built on a fundamental lie—that it is possible to wean off fossil fuels without sacrificing standard of living. He explains the limitations of solar and wind power, emphasizing that they are neither base load nor dispatchable, and that relying too heavily on them can lead to grid instability. Doomberg also highlights China's strategic moves in the energy sector, including stockpiling critical minerals and converting coal into oil products, as indicators of its long-term planning and preparation for potential conflicts. Doomberg further discusses the potential bifurcation of energy markets between the BRICS countries and the G7, with the BRICS countries potentially replacing treasuries and European debt with gold for settling energy trades. He also touches on the potential use of crypto and stablecoins by the U.S. to devalue its debt, suggesting that this could be a form of financial repression and yield curve control. The podcast concludes with Doomberg emphasizing the importance of lateral thinking as a valuable skill for interpreting complex geopolitical and economic situations. He advocates for supplementing linear thinking with lateral thinking to gain a more comprehensive understanding of global events and to make more informed decisions.

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• Michael Oliver: A Stock Market Tombstone Event

  During the podcast, host Tom Bodrovics and guest Michael Oliver, from Momentum Structural Analysis (MSA), discussed various market dynamics and trends. Oliver emphasized that the S&P 500 is at the top of a major bubble, which has been evident since late 2024 or early 2025. He noted that the recent surge in the S&P, despite making new highs, is a counter-trend rally within a broken long-term uptrend. Oliver highlighted that historical patterns, such as those seen in 2000 and 2007, suggest that the current market structure is similar to past market tops. Oliver also discussed the underperformance of key sectors like financials, healthcare, and industrials, which together make up a significant portion of the market. He contrasted this with the strong performance of tech sectors, particularly information technology and communication services, which have driven the recent market rally. This narrow leadership, Oliver argued, is a sign of market weakness and potential rollover. The conversation also touched on the bond market, particularly the T-bond market, which Oliver described as being in a critical state. He noted that the market has not behaved as an alternative to stocks, as it typically would, and that this anomaly could signal broader market issues. Oliver also discussed the potential for a bond vigilante resurgence if the market structure breaks. Turning to cryptocurrencies, Oliver expressed concern about Bitcoin's momentum structure, which he believes is at risk of breaking. He noted that Bitcoin's price action has been closely correlated with the NASDAQ 100, and a breakdown in Bitcoin could potentially drag down the NASDAQ as well. In contrast, Oliver sees gold and silver as having significant upside potential, with silver poised for a dramatic breakout. He also mentioned that silver miners are outperforming gold miners and could see substantial gains in the near future. Oliver concluded by discussing the potential for a return to a gold-backed currency, driven by global trends and the failure of central bank policies. He sees gold as a prime beneficiary of the current market dynamics and expects rapid and significant changes in the near future.

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• Zen and The Art of Effective Leadership with Nicole Schaefer

  Nicole Schaefer, a leadership coach who uses horses to teach leadership skills, discusses the importance of authentic leadership and the role of horses in developing self-awareness and effective communication. She highlights the societal shift towards gender-specific initiatives, including those for men, which aim to create safe spaces for individuals to be seen and heard without conforming to societal expectations. Schaefer emphasizes the importance of leading from one's core values and principles, rather than adhering to societal norms or expectations. Schaefer's leadership coaching involves working with horses, which provide honest and candid feedback, helping individuals become more self-aware and authentic. Horses do not react to performance or expectations but rather to the individual's true self, making them excellent mirrors for personal growth. This approach helps leaders understand their energy levels, body language, and communication styles, enabling them to connect more effectively with their teams. The conversation also touches on the concept of "me first leadership," where leaders show vulnerability and create a safe space for their teams to do the same. This approach fosters innovation, creativity, and a sense of community within the team. Schaefer shares her personal experience with burnout, attributing it to a disconnect between her values and her work environment. She emphasizes the importance of honoring one's values and taking time to recharge and reflect, rather than constantly pushing for productivity. Schaefer's work with horses helps individuals understand their spatial bubbles, energy levels, and communication styles, enabling them to build more effective relationships and teams. She also discusses the importance of pausing and allowing for creativity and innovation, rather than constantly pushing for productivity. Schaefer's upcoming projects include working with residents in pediatric medicine to build interpersonal skills and confidence, as well as expanding her coaching services to more individuals.

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