Big Think

• Meet the 3 kinds of people who are stealing your money | Kelly Richmond Pope

  Fraud is a $5 trillion “industry.” But not all its perpetrators look alike. Kelly Richmond Pope, a professor of accounting, breaks down who commits fraud — and why. When we think of someone who commits fraud, we think of people like Bernie Madoff or companies like Enron: intentional perpetrators of financial crimes. But other kinds of people commit fraud, too. Accounting professor Kelly Richmond Pope explains who else falls prey to the "fraud triangle", and they might be even scarier than the big bads. 0:00 How does fraud happen? 1:00 Meet Kelly Richmond Pope 1:28 The Fraud Triangle 2:18 Three types of fraudsters 2:26 Intentional perpetrators 3:50 Righteous perpetrators 4:20 Accidental perpetrators 5:56 And then there's Wells Fargo… --------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Unmask the comedian. Meet the real Kel Mitchell.

  ### 🎭 **Kel Mitchell: From Pain to Purpose** **Who is Kel Mitchell?** Actor, comedian, author, pastor — and a deeply reflective human being. ### 🌟 Key Life Lessons from Kel’s Story: #### 🧠 1. **Childhood Trauma Sticks Around** - A moment of childhood hate left a lasting imprint. - Unresolved pain can resurface in adulthood and distort how we see others. #### 🤝 2. **The Power of Honest Conversations** - Kel used to bottle up emotions and avoid conflict. - Growth began when he started **sharing his truth** and **understanding others deeply**. #### 💔 3. **Divorce and Losing Access to His Children** - A painful court battle left him alienated from his kids. - Sharing his story on YouTube brought **connection and healing**—for him and others. #### 😔 4. **His Darkest Moment: Suicidal Thoughts** - At a low point, he stood on a balcony ready to give up. - A voice (which he believes was God) told him to **step away** and find healing. ### 🙌 The Comeback: Faith, Family & Self-Love - Rebuilt his life by reconnecting with God and loving himself. - Now a proud father of four and married to a loving partner. - Learned to embrace mistakes as lessons, not regrets. ### 🎮 Kel’s Wisdom, Nintendo-Style: > "The designer made cheat codes to skip levels. Now I know the Designer of me. So I can jump levels in life—because I’ve learned from the pain." ### 💬 Final Message: There’s no going back. But there’s **so much forward** when you let go, learn, and love yourself through the process. Folllow this Podcast for daily Episodes --------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• You need data literacy now more than ever – here’s how to master it | Talithia Williams

  In a world where our decisions are increasingly influenced by data, understanding the information we encounter has never been more essential. Dr. Talithia Williams explains the case for data literacy. Dr. Talithia Williams, a math professor and science communicator, shares her take on why understanding data is now more important than ever. Using examples like noticing targeted ads after a conversation, Williams shows how data shapes our everyday experiences. But she also warns of the dangers, like biases in data-driven models that can lead to unfair outcomes. While AI and machine learning offer powerful insights, it’s up to us to ensure these tools are used fairly and accurately. Dr. Williams also emphasizes that by deepening our understanding of data, we can better navigate the challenges that arise in our daily lives. She encourages us to see data not just as numbers, but as a tool for making more informed, fairer decisions in our bewilderingly complex world. About Dr. Talithia Williams: Talithia Williams, PhD, is a Professor of Mathematics and the Mathematics Clinic Director at Harvey Mudd College. She develops statistical models focused on environmental issues, including a cataract model for the World Health Organization to predict surgical rates in Africa. Known for making complex numerical concepts accessible, Williams inspires others through her dedication to STEM education. Williams has worked with NASA, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and the National Security Agency (NSA). Folllow this Podcast for daily Episodes --------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Understand these 4 key concepts for a happier life | Arthur Brooks

  ### 😊 Happiness Isn’t a Feeling—It’s a Formula (Backed by Science!) We think happiness = joy, love, laughter. But what if we’ve been chasing the *wrong thing*? 🎯 **Happiness is *not* a feeling**—it’s the **cause** of feelings. Think of happiness like Thanksgiving dinner, and feelings as the delicious smell. Smells come and go. The feast is deeper. **Lasts longer.** That’s *good news.* Because if you’re sad, tired, or frustrated sometimes… 👏 **You’re normal. You’re human.** Negative emotions are survival tools. Without them, you’d be dead in a week. ## 🧠 Emotion ≠ Good or Bad All emotions are **information** from your brain. - 😡 Fear, anger, sadness? Signals of danger—crucial for survival. - 😄 Joy, surprise, curiosity? Clues that something’s good for you. They're all helpful. Just like hunger reminds you to eat, **feelings guide your actions**. ## 💛 What Actually Makes Us Happy? Arthur Brooks has studied **millions of people**, and found 3 key ingredients that define lasting happiness: ### 1️⃣ **Enjoyment** ≠ Pleasure 🍕 Pleasure is basic—like eating pizza. 👫 Enjoyment = pleasure + people + memory. Think *beer with friends,* not chugging alone. ### 2️⃣ **Satisfaction** Comes **after struggle**. The “I earned this” feeling after hard work. Cheating might get you the prize, but never the pride. ### 3️⃣ **Meaning** We *need* it constantly. Go even one hour without it, and you’ll feel empty. **Meaning =** - **Coherence:** Why do things happen? - **Significance:** Why do *I* matter? - **Purpose:** Where am I going? Find answers, and you find **fulfillment.** ## 🧘‍♂️ So... How Do We Find Real Happiness? Not through **money, power, pleasure, or fame**—those are *traps.* Instead, pursue the **4 Pillars of Happiness:** ### 🌌 1. Faith (or Awe) Not just religion. It’s about **connecting to something bigger**—nature, music, philosophy, silence. ### 👨‍👩‍👧 2. Family You don’t have to love every relative, but **you do have to show up**. Family bonds = long-term emotional security. ### 🤝 3. Friendship Not followers. **Real friends.** You need more than just your partner. Old friends are like emotional vitamins—**don’t skip the dose.** ### 💼 4. Work (That Serves Others) Work brings joy **only** when you: - Create value (💪 *earned success*) - Help others (❤️ *service*) You don’t have to save the world. Just lighten someone else’s load. ## 🛤️ Happiness = Direction, Not Destination You *don’t find* happiness. You **build it**, by changing habits, seeking meaning, and serving others. And yes—you *can* get better at it. That’s the best part. ### 🔑 Keywords: Happiness science, Arthur Brooks, emotional intelligence, meaning of life, faith and awe, real happiness vs pleasure, satisfaction and struggle, prefrontal cortex joy, happiness vs feelings, happiness habits, emotional survival, friendship and connection, happiness pillars, positive psychology, work-life fulfillment, happiness and purpose, slow living, service and meaning, family values, faith alternatives, direction not destination, how to be happy, happiness research Folllow this Podcast for daily Episodes --------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• How COVID-era monetary policy changed everything | Joseph Politano

  "Understanding more about monetary policy and the economic regime that you're living under can help ease some of the fundamental uncertainties [that have been] prevalent since COVID, and help you make better decisions in your day-to-day life." In the wake of the pandemic, our economy entered into a new era marked by supply chain shortages, rapidly rising inflation, and a sharp increase in interest rates. And consumers, businesses, and governments are more uncertain than they've ever been. It's impossible to understand the changes that we've gone through over the last four years and, in a broader sense, over the last two decades without understanding the shifts in monetary policy over that time period, says Joseph Politano, an economic analyst, a data journalist, and the writer behind Apricitas Economics. We interviewed Politano on April 30th, 2024 and he explained this global economic shift. About Joseph Politano:Joseph Politano is a Financial Management Analyst at the Bureau of Labor Statistics working to support the Labor Market Information and Occupational Health and Safety surveys that BLS conducts. He writes independently about economics, business, and public policy for a better world at apricitas.substack.com. Folllow this Podcast for daily Episodes --------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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