Solutions From The Multiverse

Solving Fascism: Introducing Heterarchy

Solutions from the Multiverse: Heterarchy, the Cure for FascismSummary Adam Braus proposes a new word for what most people mean when they say "democracy," Heterarchy: heterarchy , a society where many different powers compete, cooperate and keep each other in check. Adam argues that fascism, oligarchy, dictatorship and a pure-referendum democracy are all failures to preserve that balance. He says the left and the right both want heterarchy, and a fresh term could build common ground. Scot Maupin pushes back and asks the practical questions along the way. Timestamps 0:07 Intro and today's solution 1:58 Introducing "heterarchy" 4:17 Why people who say "democracy" mean heterarchy 6:41 Why "democracy" is a confusing term 10:03 New ways to wield power, such as tech 14:15 Oligarchy and the wealthy aligning 18:48 Building and balancing a heterarchy 21:43 What happens when heterarchy is lost 23:27 Why tyranny hurts even those in power 26:38 Elite overproduction 31:04 The elevator pitch for heterarchy 32:41 Neo-monarchism and Curtis Yarvin 36:44 Machiavelli and il tumulto 38:01 The Constitution as heterarchy 40:13 Heterarchist heroes, flags and merch 43:03 Sign-off 43:51 Bonus Clip

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Solving Riots: Smarter Riot Policing & Dialogue Police

Solutions from the Multiverse: A Better Way to Police Riots Episode summary Adam Braus and Scot Maupin take on the French protests and ask why France keeps seeing violent riots. Adam argues the cause isn't French culture. He says it's how France polices them. He makes the case for the "gold standard" of riot policing: the consent-based model the UK invented and Sweden refined. The episode isn't about brand-new ideas, but Adam says this solution isn't getting any media coverage. What we cover Policing by consent vs. statist force: The UK sees police as "citizens in uniform." France treats disorder as a challenge to the state. How French riot police work: They find agitators, rush the crowd, arrest them, and move crowds out by force. Dialogue police: The UK's police liaison teams and Sweden's "Dialogue Police" wear visible vests, talk with crowd leaders before, during and after protests, and explain what police are doing and why. After the riot: Debriefs with protest leaders help prevent the next riot. Adam says the seeds of the next riot are planted at the end of the last one. Case studies: Sweden's reforms after the 2001 Gothenburg riots, and Vancouver's 2010 Winter Olympics, where police mingled with crowds and the games saw virtually no major public order incidents. Why France hasn't changed: The state refuses to negotiate with rioters, there's little trusted local policing, and police unions resist. Not just a French problem: Adam compares it to US polarization and first-past-the-post voting. Scot ties it back to the "us vs. them" dynamic. America's patchwork: The US has no national police force, so protest policing varies by place. Mentioned in the episode The Dialogue Police, a 2025 documentary directed by Susanna Edwards. It follows a Swedish police unit in Stockholm. Adam says it rents on Amazon Prime for about $4. Timestamps 0:07 Intro and today's solution 3:32 Policing by consent vs. statist force 6:51 How French riot police operate 11:27 Dialogue and communication strategies 15:01 UK liaison teams and Sweden's Dialogue Police 20:40 Why the police, not the culture, are the issue 26:14 Post-riot debriefs 29:19 Why France hasn't adopted this 36:58 Sweden's reform after 2001 37:58 Vancouver Olympics case study 41:03 The Dialogue Police documentary 42:15 Culture vs. systems, and voting 45:21 Wrap-up

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Did Trump Get Something Right with Childcare?

Stay-at-home parent childcare subsidies could change family economics Adam Braus and Scot Maupin discuss a proposed child care subsidy that would pay stay-at-home parents directly, rather than limiting support to outside caregivers. The conversation starts with California’s family, friend, and neighbor care model, then explores how a federal version could help working families, support more flexible parenting arrangements, and ease household pressures. They also consider what influences birth rates—from housing and neighborhood safety to multigenerational living and the role of grandparents. Along the way, they debate whether the proposal counts as “MAGA communism,” whether it should be called a “tradwife provision,” and why child care support may matter more than simple cash incentives. Timestamps 00:00 — Introducing Solutions from the Multiverse 00:26 — The hook: a Trump proposal Adam supports 01:47 — California’s family, friend, and neighbor child care subsidy 02:45 — How the existing program works and who may qualify 03:40 — Why Adam thinks parents should be eligible too 04:16 — The proposed federal subsidy for stay-at-home parents 07:05 — The proposal’s political roots and traditional family roles 08:02 — How direct payments could empower the caregiving parent 09:59 — What Adam means by “MAGA communism” 11:55 — The case for including families with part-time work arrangements 12:25 — The proposed benefit: nearly $9,000 per child per year 13:54 — Why birth rates may be difficult to change through subsidies alone 14:23 — Comparing family policy approaches in Hungary and Scandinavia 15:48 — The role of social conditions in family decisions 16:16 — Child-safe neighborhoods and car-free streets 17:16 — Grandparents, multigenerational living, and housing costs 18:29 — Scot on optimism, economics, and family planning 19:40 — Women’s education and fertility rates 20:10 — Artificial wombs, with a “goo tube” detour 21:07 — Why Adam sees traffic safety as a family issue 22:33 — Expanding child care support to parents and informal caregivers 23:02 — A possible bipartisan pitch for the policy 24:21 — Comparing family care with professional child care systems 25:06 — A joke about extending the idea to health care 26:16 — Revisiting California’s existing program 27:27 — Housing affordability and family formation 28:48 — The politics of keeping housing expensive 30:31 — A detour into deflation and price stability 31:32 — Closing thoughts on child care and family support 32:16 — The dinner roller coaster restaurant idea

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A Test for Female Psychopaths?

Psychopaths, Gender, and Why a Female Test Might Matter Adam Braus and Scot Maupin explore the idea of a gender-specific psychopathy test. Adam argues that because the classic Hare-based test was developed from male prison populations, it may not capture how psychopathic traits could present differently in women. They also discuss the challenges of distinguishing those traits from other conditions, and whether some traits may be rewarded in high-pressure roles. Timestamps 00:00 - Show intro and the episode’s premise 04:04 - Why the current psychopathy test may be male-centered 05:02 - ADHD and autism as examples of differences in presentation 07:41 - The possibility that some forms of psychopathy go underrecognized 09:09 - Traits a future test might examine 10:37 - Psychopathic traits and high-pressure professions 12:09 - Utilitarian thinking and emotional distance 13:01 - Psychopathy as a spectrum 14:10 - The proposed test as a public-awareness tool 15:52 - Where research could begin 17:11 - Possible changes to the test’s criteria 18:59 - Social awareness and masking 20:04 - Debating whether separate tests are needed 21:20 - The challenge of distinguishing psychopathy from borderline personality disorder 24:44 - What identification might be used for 25:04 - How narcissism entered everyday conversation 27:11 - Questions about women in business and leadership 29:57 - Nonviolent expressions of extreme traits 31:55 - Reviewing examples of psychopathy criteria 34:17 - Psychopathy versus narcissism 35:35 - Public figures as debated examples 37:53 - Beauty pageants and other possible research questions 39:28 - Prevalence estimates and the challenge of setting a cutoff 40:42 - Treatment, coping, and awareness 43:48 - Recognizing traits and choosing environments 45:43 - Recapping the episode’s main idea 47:11 - Possible book titles and a debate about a provocative clip 50:09 - Closing remarks

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Can Sex Parties Save the World? with Misha Bonaventura

Connect with our Guest: https://mishabonaventura.com/ https://www.soulplay.co/ This episode is a lively, idea-driven conversation about how consent-focused sex parties could function as more than entertainment and instead become a tool for education, connection, and cultural change. Adam Braus and Scot Maupin are joined by sex and relationship coach and consent culture pioneer Misha Bonaventura, who argues that these spaces can help people practice consent, reduce loneliness, and unlearn shame around pleasure. We discuss what a consent-forward sex party actually looks like, why Misha sees it as a response to toxic sex culture, and how smaller entry points like cuddle parties and PG-13 events can help more people participate safely. The conversation also touches on jealousy, non-monogamy, community norms, and why learning how to say yes and no clearly matters far beyond sex. Misha Bonaventura (mishabonaventura.com) is a sex & relationship coach (bonaventura-coaching.shinepages.com), consent culture pioneer and producer of transformational play spaces. She's been a leader in the sex positive scene of the Bay Area for over a decade. Now leading SoulPlay Festival (soulplay.co) as Executive Producer, she is deeply passionate about helping people and communities build a pleasure based life through deeper understandings of consent, trusting that conflict is a path to intimacy, and leading the way to pleasure based living. She brings years of experience producing sexy parties, Somatica Coaching, Co-Active Coaching, Light Dark Institute, and Nonviolent Communication to helping you love, connect and repair with more courage and less armor. Timestamps 00:00 — Misha’s big idea: sex parties could save the world 01:10 — What a consent-forward space looks like 02:27 — Why toxic sex culture makes this conversation necessary 04:59 — Consent as explicit, collaborative communication 06:08 — Curation, boundaries, and who attends 08:30 — Bodies, beauty, and why anonymity isn’t the point 09:26 — Community-based relating at Bonobo Network 11:01 — Festivals and colleges as spaces with unspoken sexual dynamics 12:31 — Relationship styles and who attends 14:27 — From small gatherings to 200-person parties 15:03 — PG-13 parties as a more accessible entry point 20:04 — Cuddle parties, Soul Play Festival, and consent education 22:18 — Consent, choice, and resisting authoritarian habits 23:48 — How safer spaces can support sexual expression 24:46 — Why “don’t be creepy” needs clearer guidance 26:18 — A consent scene from The Night of the Iguana 27:55 — The Invite and the ethics of group sexual dynamics 29:40 — What happens at a PG-13 party 31:37 — Foucault, sexual repression, and cultural norms 33:29 — Jealousy, admiration, and connection 36:48 — De-escalation and staying in community after breakups 38:47 — A compatibility framework: fantasy, chemistry, availability, and core expression 40:35 — Designing accessible entry points—and acknowledging potential downsides 43:45 — Balancing security, freedom, and novelty in relationships 46:49 — Where to find Misha Thanks to Jonah Burns for the SFM music.

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Solutions FM x The Perfect Show - Gradient Puzzle Summer - Special Presentation

This week Adam Braus is away, so we are sharing 'Gradient Puzzle Summer,' a cross-publication of Scot's solo podcast - The Perfect Show. We will return on 10/8 with the next regular episode of Solutions From the Multiverse. ----- Webpage with Transcript, Pictures, Videos, and more: https://perfectshowpodcast.com/23-gradient-puzzle-summer/ ----- TPS023 Gradient Puzzle Summer NOTES Is there a type of jigsaw puzzle you’ve never heard of but might be really into? This episode Scot talks all about his love for and fascination with gradient jigsaw puzzles, a thing new to many people. He goes into his love of puzzling, and where it probably originated, as well as connecting with other puzzlers through Assemble Puzzlery and their events. Scot searches for another puzzler who will have the same experience with gradient puzzles that he had, and manages to stir up a little drama with inadvertently picking the worst gradient puzzles there are at a crucial point. So grab a puzzle, pour yourself a drink, and sit back for a story told, piece by piece. Assemble Puzzlery: AssemblePuzzlery.com Thank you to Jen Thompson, Erica Elms, Vicki Davis, Brian Earle, Sarah Busing, Norah Molina, Vera, Stephanie, Ben Reburn, Peggy Lervold, Lois Lervold, and Amelia Maupin for helping me with this quest. ---- Chapter Timestamps: (00:00) Solutions From the Multiverse Intro (02:00) Pre-Introduction (02:27) Introduction (02:58) History with Puzzles (04:54) First Gradient Puzzle (08:35) My Wrong Prediction (13:15) The Episode Quest (14:55) Jen and Erica (20:19) Assemble Puzzlery Event (21:57) Sarah (24:02) Brian (26:57) Who is Karen Puzzles? (32:35) My Big Mistake (37:24) Brian - Blue Kazoo (39:52) Vicki - Ravensburger Krypt (42:48) Vicki - MasterPieces (48:36) Puzzling All Summer Long (56:38) Lois and Peggy - Kansas (1:04:26) Sandra Maupin Tribute (1:05:25) Perfectorium Entry (1:06:08) Pictures (1:07:20) Thank Yous (1:08:20) Solutions From the Multiverse (1:09:40) Ending

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Solving Parking: Rethinking Driveway Curb Cuts- Owen Raisch | s04 e07

You can reach Owen Raisch on X (nee Twitter) here: https://twitter.com/owenraisch Right to Park: Reclaiming unused curb cuts for public parking Adam Braus and guest Owen Raisch discuss a San Francisco specific urbanist proposal that would charge homeowners to reserve driveway curb cuts for car access, while returning unused driveway frontage to the public as street parking. The idea is framed as a practical way to add parking, reduce congestion, and reset how cities think about public right of way.They also dig into the broader implications for density, transit funding, bike infrastructure, and how self-driving cars may change the parking equation over time. Email: solutionsfromthemultiverse@gmail.com (mailto:solutionsfromthemultiverse@gmail.com) Adam: @ajbraus (https://twitter.com/ajbraus) - braus@hey.com (mailto:braus@hey.com) Scot: @scotmaupin (https://www.twitter.com/@scotmaupin) adambraus.com (https://www.adambraus.com) (Link to Adam's projects and books) The Perfect Show (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-perfect-show/id1579838291) (Scot's solo podcast) The Numey (https://www.paywithnumey.com) (inflation-free currency) Thanks to Jonah Burns for the SFM music. Key topics In this episode, Adam Braus presents a “right to park” proposal for San Francisco: if a homeowner wants their driveway curb cut protected for car access, they pay an annual fee. Owen Raisch helps test the idea from an urbanist angle, emphasizing how the built environment shapes quality of life and transportation choices. Adam argues the policy would convert unused curb cuts into public street parking, potentially adding about 90,000 spaces in San Francisco. The discussion centers on the idea that the default should be public access to the curb unless someone pays for the private exemption. Adam says the proposal is less about raising revenue and more about efficiency, since many curb cuts are unused much of the time. Timestamps 00:00 - Intro and Owen’s return as guest 03:05 - The core idea: pay to protect a driveway curb cut 04:23 - How much parking this could add 05:09 - The parking problem this solves 06:18 - Why curb cuts are effectively private use of public space 07:11 - What homeowners already pay versus what the curb cut would cost 11:17 - Comparing the fee to existing street and commercial parking costs 12:39 - Why this creates car-on-car incentives, not just anti-car politics 13:31 - The stat about cars circulating while looking for parking 15:22 - The real yearly cost of car ownership 17:01 - What else that money could be used for instead 18:10 - Why this is not anti-car, but pro-efficiency 19:38 - Where the revenue could go 20:20 - Why San Francisco already considered a similar idea 22:08 - Existing red curb protections and how this could scale them 24:13 - Self-driving cars and whether they change the parking calculus 26:11 - How car ownership changes how people think about transportation 28:00 - This is a driveway tax, not a car tax 29:08 - Why the proposal matches the city that actually exists today 31:24 - Why San Francisco is different from other cities 34:52 - How more parking could unlock more housing density 39:24 - The bike highway idea and removing some parking for protected corridors 41:33 - Why car drivers may benefit from fewer cars overall 44:41 - Bikes, danger, and the asymmetry with cars 46:23 - Naming the proposal “Right to Park” 48:52 - Why the reform is a paradigm shift, not a total fix 51:34 - Wrap-up and closing

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Solving Alternative Facts with 'Begs the Question' | s04 e06

Video of episode: https://youtu.be/nDhTnWu7RGo Begs the Question: Bring Back the Real Meaning Adam Braus and Scot Maupin unpack one of the most misused phrases in modern argument, explaining what “begs the question” actually means and why getting it right matters. This episode is a lively defense of logic, careful language, and evidence-based thinking, with plenty of examples from politics, culture, parenting, and current tech hype. In this episode, Adam and Scot focus on restoring “begs the question” to its original meaning: circular reasoning. They also trace how the phrase gets misused as “invites the question,” and why that confusion weakens everyday arguments. Key topics Adam defines “begs the question” as circular reasoning, not “raises a question” Examples of the fallacy from stealing, religion, politics, and everyday speech Why logical fallacies are ways of sounding reasonable while actually being irrational The difference between saying something is “circular” versus simply “invites the question” How people misuse the phrase constantly, often without realizing it Why clearer logic terms can help identify weak arguments and bad beliefs faster How circular reasoning shows up in anti-vaccine claims, flat-earth reasoning, and nationalism Timestamps (00:00) - Opening banter and the setup for today’s solution (00:49) - Adam introduces the case for restoring “begs the question” (02:12) - The actual definition: a logical fallacy and circular reasoning (03:58) - Ad hominem as an example of a logical fallacy (04:36) - Straw man arguments and why distortion replaces real rebuttal (05:06) - Slippery slope reasoning and exaggerated consequences (05:22) - “Begs the question” explained as circular proof (06:18) - Familiar examples: stealing, the Bible, and self-justifying beliefs (06:55) - More circular examples, including free speech and trustworthiness (07:40) - Defining a word with itself and why that fails as reasoning (08:00) - Why people keep using the phrase wrong (09:29) - The modern misuse: “invites the question” (10:35) - How to correctly use the phrase in conversation (11:25) - Flat-earth reasoning as a circular argument (12:19) - “America is the greatest” and other self-referential claims (13:11) - Why calling out a fallacy can instantly lower trust in a claim (14:03) - “Invites the question” versus “begs the question” (15:35) - Alternative facts and why Adam sees circular reasoning underneath them (16:33) - Real facts versus claims that collapse into self-reference (17:17) - Scot’s point about evidence-based thinking versus vibes (18:01) - Feelings are valid, but false objectivity is the problem (19:17) - Why people should be more honest about discomfort and bias (19:40) - Crypto, Bitcoin, and other bubble logic (22:21) - AI hype, apocalyptic claims, and circular reasoning around innovation (25:26) - The “if we don’t do it, China will” argument (28:29) - Parenting, sleep deprivation, and a brief equipment detour (31:02) - How to insert the phrase into pop culture and social media (33:50) - Teaching logic in school and saving people time and frustration (35:06) - Bringing “begs the question” back as a cultural correction (36:15) - Technically correct people and the idea of an “International Begs the Question Day” (37:12) - White supremacy as a circular argument (39:20) - Left-wing examples: rent, housing scarcity, and vague explanations (40:33) - Final tech check and wrap-up

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Solving Socialism's Reputation: Market Socialism | s04 e05

Send us Fan Mail Video of our full episode: https://youtu.be/lXcLIrSqddY In this episode, Adam Braus and Scot Maupin explore the concept of market socialism, its misconceptions, and how it can be a practical and appealing alternative to traditional socialism and capitalism. They discuss how branding, policy, and public perception can shape the future of socialist ideas. keywordsmarket socialism, socialism, capitalism, public policy, branding, economic reform, social safety nets, free markets, Scandinavian countries, political strategy key topics * The difference between socialism and market socialism * Why branding matters in political ideology * How Scandinavian countries implement market socialism * The role of regulation in a socialist economy * The misconception of central planning in socialism * The impact of poverty and homelessness on society * The importance of safety nets and social programs * The potential for market socialism to enhance freedom and innovation Chapters (00:00) Introduction to the episode (00:22) The need to rebrand socialism as market socialism (01:09) Differences between democratic socialism and market socialism (02:43) The misconception of central planning in socialism (04:17) Modern socialists and their beliefs in free markets (06:29) Branding and political strategy in socialism (08:34) The role of regulation and competition in market socialism (12:07) The impact of inheritance and billionaires in capitalism (15:23) The importance of safety nets and social safety programs (19:17) Examples from Scandinavian countries (23:23) Barriers to starting businesses in Scandinavian countries (28:32) The concept of sewer socialism and its benefits (33:23) The Peter tax and taxing the wealthy fairly (36:36) The evolution of socialist ideas post-Cold War (40:33) The moral and fiscal benefits of eliminating poverty (44:09) The rise of market socialism and its acceptance (49:29) How to promote market socialism effectively (50:54) Closing remarks and call to action Support the show Help these new solutions spread by ... Subscribing wherever you listen to podcasts Leaving a 5-star review Sharing your favorite solution with your friends and network (this makes a BIG difference) Comments? Feedback? Questions? Solutions? Message us! We will do a mailbag episode. Email: solutionsfromthemultiverse@gmail.com Adam: @ajbraus - braus@hey.com Scot: @scotmaupin adambraus.com (Link to Adam's projects and books) The Perfect Show (Scot's solo podcast) Thanks to Jonah Burns for the SFM music.

Solving AI Psychosis: Lithium in the Water Supply!?- with Mo Hafez | s04 e04

Send us Fan Mail Video Version of the Episode: https://youtu.be/JBoJCCl8W18 In this episode, Adam Braus, Scot Maupin, and guest Mo Hafez explore the provocative idea of adding lithium to the water supply. They discuss potential health benefits, risks, public opinion, and the societal implications of such a bold public health measure. In this episode, Scot Maupin, Mo Hafez, and Adam Braus explore the potential of lithium in water to improve mental health, the implications of social media lawsuits, and the future of AI and societal safety measures. They discuss innovative ideas, dystopian scenarios, and the importance of democratizing technology. Keywords lithium, water supply, public health, mental health, dementia, Alzheimer's, AI psychosis, societal impact, neuroprotection, mental health treatment Lithium water, social media lawsuit, AI future, mental health, dystopian society, public safety, technology ethics Key Topics Potential health benefits of lithium in water, including reduction in dementia, Alzheimer's, suicidality, and violent crime Risks and public opinion challenges of adding lithium to the water supply The science behind lithium's neuroprotective effects and safety at microdose levels Societal implications, conspiracy theories, and ethical considerations of water fluoridation and lithium The logistics of sourcing, distributing, and regulating lithium for public health use. Potential of lithium in water to improve mental health Legal and societal implications of social media lawsuits Future scenarios of AI development and regulation Dystopian vs utopian visions of technology The importance of democratizing AI and technology Guest Name: Mo Hafez: Mo's Socials: YouTube - BeyondtheBytePodcast Instagram - beyond.the.byte X - bytewisepodcast LinkedIn - bytewise-ai Sound Bites "Small amounts of lithium can protect against dementia." "Lithium in water could lower suicide rates by 58 percent." "Lithium in water reduces depression, suicidality, and violent crime." Chapters (00:00) Introduction to the Lithium Water Idea (03:01) Historical Context of Art and Madness (03:59) Scientific Evidence Linking Lithium to Reduced Dementia and Crime (06:00) Public Opinion and Ethical Concerns of Water Additives (06:59) The Role of Technology in Van Gogh's Life (08:03) AI Psychosis and the Role of Lithium in Society (09:56) Risks, Dosing, and Safety of Lithium in Water (11:53) Feasibility, Sourcing, and Public Acceptance (12:11) Social Media Lawsuit and Its Implications (14:05) Potential Societal and Conspiracy Theories (15:59) Practical Steps and Future Research (17:02) Potential Benefits of Lithium Water for Public Health (18:05) Cultural and Historical Perspectives on Water Additives (20:00) Conclusion: Balancing Benefits and Risks (21:59) Dystopian Scenarios: Equilibrium and Control (27:00) Future Regulations on Social Media Usage (31:59) The Ethics of Water Additives and Public Safety (37:00) The Future of AI: Risks and Opportunities (41:59) Power Dynamics in AI Development (47:03) Innovative Ideas and Closing Remarks Support the show Help these new solutions spread by ... Subscribing wherever you listen to podcasts Leaving a 5-star review Sharing your favorite solution with your friends and network (this makes a BIG difference) Comments? Feedback? Questions? Solutions? Message us! We will do a mailbag episode. Email: solutionsfromthemultiverse@gmail.com Adam: @ajbraus - braus@hey.com Scot: @scotmaupin adambraus.com (Link to Adam's projects and books) The Perfect Show (Scot's solo podcast) Thanks to Jonah Burns for the SFM music.

Solving the Left: Lift To Lead | s04 e03

Send us Fan Mail Voters love to say “I only care about policy,” but our brains do a faster scan first: does this person look healthy, capable, and worth following? We take on a provocative claim with real-world implications for elections and messaging: the left should lift weights, not as vanity, but as a simple, controllable advantage that changes how candidates are received on camera, at the podium, and in everyday encounters. We dig into why physical presence functions like a shortcut for trust, including the long-noted pattern that taller candidates often win and the “silverback” instinct people pretend they do not have. From there we talk about modern gym culture as an identity, especially for young men, and why saying “yeah, I lift” can create immediate rapport. We also draw a line between looking robust and looking unrelatable, because there is a point where extreme shredded aesthetics starts to signal something off. A big part of the conversation is a timely case study: Abdul Al-Sayed in Michigan, a physician pushing Medicare for All, unions, and a “less money for foreign wars, more money in your pocket” message, while also leaning into strength training as part of his public image. We compare that to broader examples like Michelle Obama’s public displays of fitness and the way visibly fit public figures gain attention online. Then we get practical: how to start strength training safely, why a trainer can prevent injuries, and how protein, calories, and rest actually drive results. If you’ve ever wondered whether politics is judged on substance or vibes, this one gets uncomfortably honest. Subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review, then tell us: should politicians treat fitness as part of the job? Support the show Help these new solutions spread by ... Subscribing wherever you listen to podcasts Leaving a 5-star review Sharing your favorite solution with your friends and network (this makes a BIG difference) Comments? Feedback? Questions? Solutions? Message us! We will do a mailbag episode. Email: solutionsfromthemultiverse@gmail.com Adam: @ajbraus - braus@hey.com Scot: @scotmaupin adambraus.com (Link to Adam's projects and books) The Perfect Show (Scot's solo podcast) Thanks to Jonah Burns for the SFM music.

Solving Cyber Attacks: Cyber Police and Smarter Cyber Rules | s04 e02

Send us Fan Mail Cybersecurity isn’t failing because regular people are careless, it’s failing because we built the internet like a city with no real police force. Today, banks, hospitals, water systems, power grids, and even elections run on software, yet we still act like cyber attacks are a private problem solved by buying more tools and hoping your team patches fast enough. We make the case that this “everyone for themselves” model is exactly why phishing scams, ransomware, and mass data breaches keep winning. We walk through a public-safety approach: massively scale up FBI cybersecurity resources and military cyber capabilities for cross-border threats, then push that capacity down to states and major cities with dedicated cyber police units. The goal isn’t surveillance theater, it’s practical protection: investigate cybercrime, pursue foreign hackers, and proactively test the defenses of major companies and critical infrastructure. If a team can legally break in first, report the holes, and fine repeat negligence, patching stops being optional and starts being routine. Then we go after incentives. Should software vendors be allowed to ship vulnerable products and also sell pricey security services to protect them? We argue that’s a built-in conflict of interest. We also explore software liability: if a Microsoft-style exploit leads to a nine-figure loss, should the vendor share part of the cost the way manufacturers can face product liability in the physical world? Along the way we talk AI coding, “vibe coding,” and why simpler software often means fewer doors for attackers. If you care about secure software, cybersecurity policy, data privacy, and protecting everyday people online, hit subscribe, share the show, and leave a review so more listeners can find it. Support the show Help these new solutions spread by ... Subscribing wherever you listen to podcasts Leaving a 5-star review Sharing your favorite solution with your friends and network (this makes a BIG difference) Comments? Feedback? Questions? Solutions? Message us! We will do a mailbag episode. Email: solutionsfromthemultiverse@gmail.com Adam: @ajbraus - braus@hey.com Scot: @scotmaupin adambraus.com (Link to Adam's projects and books) The Perfect Show (Scot's solo podcast) Thanks to Jonah Burns for the SFM music.

Solving the Genius Shortage: Learning from History’s Genius Zones | s04 e01

Send us Fan Mail https://www.elton.university/ A city of 30,000 people produces Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Sophocles, and Hippocrates within about a century. Florence stacks Leonardo, Michelangelo, Machiavelli, and Galileo into a small population. Scotland’s Enlightenment rewires economics and science, and Vienna becomes a launchpad for modern psychology, music, and philosophy. We take those “genius hotspots” seriously as evidence and ask the uncomfortable question: if it happened repeatedly, why aren’t we designing education to do it on purpose? We dig into the shared features that keep showing up across time and place: starting serious study earlier, letting students specialize instead of forcing endless “well-rounded” checklists, and building long-term one-on-one mentorship rather than rotating through short, transactional classes. We also challenge the modern obsession with innate IQ and “cognitive elites”, arguing that education quality and learning environment swamp raw ability in most outcomes. Along the way we explore interdisciplinary learning as the real engine behind creative breakthroughs, plus why relying on textbook summaries (and now AI overviews) can quietly cut people off from the original ideas that train sharp thinking. We connect the history to a modern experiment: Elton University, a Montessori-inspired university model built around mentorship and research-first learning rather than coursework for its own sake. If you’ve ever felt that school trains compliance better than competence, this conversation offers a concrete alternative and a set of design principles you can argue with, improve, or steal. Subscribe for more, share this with a teacher or parent who’s ready to rethink the system, and leave a review with the biggest change you’d make to how we educate future geniuses. Support the show Help these new solutions spread by ... Subscribing wherever you listen to podcasts Leaving a 5-star review Sharing your favorite solution with your friends and network (this makes a BIG difference) Comments? Feedback? Questions? Solutions? Message us! We will do a mailbag episode. Email: solutionsfromthemultiverse@gmail.com Adam: @ajbraus - braus@hey.com Scot: @scotmaupin adambraus.com (Link to Adam's projects and books) The Perfect Show (Scot's solo podcast) Thanks to Jonah Burns for the SFM music.

Solving Healthcare: Medicare For Literally All Even You | S03 E11

Send us Fan Mail Video version available at: https://www.youtube.com/@SolutionsFromTheMultiverse/videos Imagine a “Medicare for All” plan that actually means all humans, everywhere. We take that audacious idea and force it into concrete steps: a lean nonprofit that runs a global health insurance platform where verified clinics submit medical claims with documentation, and we reimburse care for patients who cannot pay. No vague charity promises, just a claims workflow that is measurable, auditable, and designed to expand healthcare access fast. Along the way, we pressure-test the hard parts: fraud, corruption, and paperwork. We talk about using AI fraud detection, identity validation, two-factor authentication, and Medicare-style snap audits to keep the system honest without building a bloated bureaucracy. We also explore incentives borrowed from micro lending, where small groups of clinics share accountability, so bad actors get pushed out before they can drain the pool. We compare this model to Doctors Without Borders and GiveDirectly, not to dunk on them, but to ask a sharper question: what delivers the most health outcomes per donated dollar? Paying local doctors and nurses directly could be cheaper than flying teams around the world, and pairing provider reimbursements with cash support could cover real-world costs like meds, transport, and missed work. We even consider SMS-based claims for regions without reliable broadband, so the platform works where the need is highest. If you’ve worked in insurance claims, medical billing, cybersecurity, fundraising, or mission-driven software, we want your feedback and your pushback. Subscribe, share this with one friend who cares about universal healthcare, and leave a review with the biggest flaw you see in the plan so we can make it stronger. Support the show Help these new solutions spread by ... Subscribing wherever you listen to podcasts Leaving a 5-star review Sharing your favorite solution with your friends and network (this makes a BIG difference) Comments? Feedback? Questions? Solutions? Message us! We will do a mailbag episode. Email: solutionsfromthemultiverse@gmail.com Adam: @ajbraus - braus@hey.com Scot: @scotmaupin adambraus.com (Link to Adam's projects and books) The Perfect Show (Scot's solo podcast) Thanks to Jonah Burns for the SFM music.

Solving the Common Cold and Handwashing Sinks In Every School | S03 E10

Send us Fan Mail VIDEO available: https://www.youtube.com/@SolutionsFromTheMultiverse/ If you’re tired of the “my kid started school and now our whole house is sick forever” cycle, we’ve got a surprisingly low-tech fix: put handwashing stations where students actually pass by every day. We make the case that bathrooms aren’t enough because the important moment is right before eating and right after high-contact routines. From summer camp sink lines to Malaysia’s restaurant handwashing culture to cruise-ship dining rooms that practically force sanitizer on everyone, we break down why placement, maintenance, and social visibility turn handwashing from a nice idea into a real disease-control tool. Then we shift from prevention to relief and share an evidence-informed approach to shortening the common cold by lowering viral load early. We talk zinc lozenges that actually work (and which additives can wreck the benefit), hypertonic saltwater gargles with a clear mix ratio, and why nasal rinses can be the “slam dunk” when colds start in the nose. We also get into neti pot safety, including the non-negotiable rule about distilled, sterile, or previously boiled water, plus a few extra tools like honey for cough and a more advanced hypertonic saline nebulizer idea for bronchitis-style misery. You’ll also hear a quick detour on why you might not have dandruff at all, how to wash your scalp properly, and why some people ditch shampoo entirely after the oil adjustment period. Want more practical, weirdly effective solutions like this (and yes, there’s a video version too)? Subscribe, share the episode with a fellow parent, and leave a review with your best cold remedy or school hygiene idea. Support the show Help these new solutions spread by ... Subscribing wherever you listen to podcasts Leaving a 5-star review Sharing your favorite solution with your friends and network (this makes a BIG difference) Comments? Feedback? Questions? Solutions? Message us! We will do a mailbag episode. Email: solutionsfromthemultiverse@gmail.com Adam: @ajbraus - braus@hey.com Scot: @scotmaupin adambraus.com (Link to Adam's projects and books) The Perfect Show (Scot's solo podcast) Thanks to Jonah Burns for the SFM music.

Solving Housing: A Progressive Property Tax | S03 E09

Send us Fan Mail The Big Idea Professor Adam Braus pitches a fix nobody's tried: instead of taxing property at a flat rate, tax it like income — progressively. Own a modest home? You're barely taxed. Own a $50 million real estate empire? You pay real money. It's a property tax with a conscience, and Adam argues it could solve the housing crisis, fix California's broken Prop 13 system, and take a swing at the billionaire-hoarding problem all at once. Scot Maupin, doing his usual generous-interrogator thing, pokes at yachts, shell companies, and whether landlords will just pass the cost to renters — and Adam's got an answer for all of it. What's Broken Right Now Prop 13 locks property taxes to a home's original purchase price — not what it's worth today. Buy a house in 1985 for pocket change, and decades later you're still paying taxes on pocket change, even as the home is worth millions. This hits commercial property too — including, allegedly, golf courses that shuffle ownership through shell-share tricks so they're never technically "sold." The result: California's budget is starved relative to its actual wealth, and the state leans harder on income tax to compensate — which hits working people disproportionately harder than a property tax would. Meanwhile, in places like Montana and Hawaii, wealthy outsiders are buying up land and driving housing costs through the roof — not because there's a housing shortage, but because of hoarding and speculation. The Fix: Progressive Property Tax Instead of one flat rate on a property's value, tax brackets stack on a person's total property holdings: First $200K (or so): little to no tax — protects ordinary homeowners and grandmas on fixed incomes. $200K–$2M: a low rate, comparable to today's lowest-tax states. $2M–$10M+: rates climb toward the top of the national range (2%+). +$50M: a "super bracket" — 2.5–3%+ on the excess. The pitch: this could roughly double California's property tax revenue (from ~$100B to $170–200B), funneled toward building housing, ending homelessness, and politically popular wins like paid leave — while lowering the tax burden on working people (no tax on tips, no tax on Social Security). How It Closes the Loopholes A beneficiary registry (already used in Australia and some U.S. states) ties every property to a real human owner — so you can't dodge the tax by splitting ownership across an LLC for every house, or spreading deeds across family members. Commercial real estate is included. Adam's pitch turns this into a two-for-one: tax pressure forces a sell-off of empty downtown office space (a post-COVID glut), and the state can buy it cheap and convert it into actual housing — bringing residents (and life) back to dead downtowns. The Objections, Pre-Debunked Scot plays it straight and asks the obvious questions: "Won't the rich just flee to Florida or Montana?" Adam's counter: capital flight of real estate is mostly harmless — the buildings can't be packed in a suitcase. If a billionaire sells, the property stays in-state; prices just come down, which is the point. "Won't this just raise rents?" Possibly nudges the very top of the market, but the broad base of affordable housing should barely move — maybe even gets cheaper as demand shifts. "Will yachts and jets count?" No — keep it simple, this is real estate only. Where the Idea Comes From Adam name-checks Gary's Economics (and its scrappier YouTube cousin, Barry's Economics) for the broader "tax wealth, not work" framing, and ties the proposal back to existing progressive wealth-tax proposals from Bernie Sanders (the famous "8% bracket above $1B," pegged to average market returns) and Elizabeth Warren (flat 2% above $50M) — positioning the progressive property tax as a more politically palatable, state-level cousin of those ideas. Detour of the Episode A spirited tangent on Maine's Senate race, Graham Platner — oyster farmer, combat veteran, and the episode's pick for "proof this message can win" — plus a running bit on whether wind turbines can literally use up the wind. (They cannot. Probably.) Quotable "I'm so wealthy that I can't pay the tax on my wealth." — the complaint Adam says is doing a lot of work to protect a small number of very rich people. Want me to also draft a short, punchier episode description (the 2–3 sentence blurb for podcast apps) or social media copy to go with these notes? Support the show Help these new solutions spread by ... Subscribing wherever you listen to podcasts Leaving a 5-star review Sharing your favorite solution with your friends and network (this makes a BIG difference) Comments? Feedback? Questions? Solutions? Message us! We will do a mailbag episode. Email: solutionsfromthemultiverse@gmail.com Adam: @ajbraus - braus@hey.com Scot: @scotmaupin adambraus.com (Link to Adam's projects and books) The Perfect Show (Scot's solo podcast) Thanks to Jonah Burns for the SFM music.

Solving Procrastination: Change Your Environment, Change Your Life | S03 E08

Send us Fan Mail Read Adam’s book Motivate on the most up-to-date science of motivation. Bit.ly/motivate-book The most frustrating part of self-improvement is the loop: you promise you will change, you push with willpower, you slip, then you blame your character. We take a different angle here: the strongest motivation research points to environment as the main driver of behavior, and “discipline” is often just what your setup makes easy. Once you see that, the shame drops and the strategy gets practical. We dig into the fundamental attribution error, why popular motivation narratives over-focus on grit, and how tiny design choices shape outcomes. We trade real examples: the cookie problem in your kitchen, smoking triggers that vanish when context changes, and the surprising Vietnam veterans heroin findings that show how access and stress can create addiction, and how a new environment can undo it. We also talk Rat Park, the opioid crisis as a disease of despair, and how enriched lives reduce the pull of destructive “buttons.” Then we zoom out to systems: crime as a social context issue, policy as environment design, and Advanced Peace as a proven gun violence prevention approach that can save lives and public money. We even get into feng shui as a reminder that space affects mood and attention, whether you explain it as energy or psychology. If you want to read more, work more, eat differently, or build a better life, the question becomes: what can you redesign so the right choice is the default? Subscribe for more, share this with a friend who is tired of “just try harder,” and leave a review if this reframes how you think about motivation. What part of your environment will you change first? Support the show Help these new solutions spread by ... Subscribing wherever you listen to podcasts Leaving a 5-star review Sharing your favorite solution with your friends and network (this makes a BIG difference) Comments? Feedback? Questions? Solutions? Message us! We will do a mailbag episode. Email: solutionsfromthemultiverse@gmail.com Adam: @ajbraus - braus@hey.com Scot: @scotmaupin adambraus.com (Link to Adam's projects and books) The Perfect Show (Scot's solo podcast) Thanks to Jonah Burns for the SFM music.

Solving Women's Rights: Labor Over Mangos 🥭🥭🥭 | S03 E07

Send us Fan Mail A weird, uncomfortable realization kicked this conversation off: the United States still doesn’t clearly guarantee equal rights for women at the constitutional level, and we’ve been sliding backward on core freedoms that shape everyday life. As dads of daughters, that lands differently, so we went searching for something more useful than another round of online debate. We propose a simple framework you can argue with, improve, or steal: five tiers of women’s rights, from basic property and independence, to voting power, to equal rights under law, to full equity in real life. We talk through what tactics historically worked at each stage and why the strategies that helped early wins do not automatically unlock the last two tiers. That’s where policies like the Equal Rights Amendment, equal pay enforcement, reproductive autonomy, paid parental leave and universal childcare stop being “nice to have” and become the definition of freedom. Then we take aim at what we call “mangoes” media, academia and NGOs. We’re not saying they’re useless, but we are saying they can’t be the engine. The engine is organized labor power: voting blocs, strikes, and boycotts that hit the pocketbook, backed by coalitions that can keep pressure on year after year. We dig into Me Too as a case study, and we point to Iceland’s women’s strike as a reminder of what coordinated action can do. If you want a practical, strategic conversation about feminism, labor unions, gender equality and how change actually happens, hit play, then subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review. What lever would you pull first: vote, strike, or boycott? Support the show Help these new solutions spread by ... Subscribing wherever you listen to podcasts Leaving a 5-star review Sharing your favorite solution with your friends and network (this makes a BIG difference) Comments? Feedback? Questions? Solutions? Message us! We will do a mailbag episode. Email: solutionsfromthemultiverse@gmail.com Adam: @ajbraus - braus@hey.com Scot: @scotmaupin adambraus.com (Link to Adam's projects and books) The Perfect Show (Scot's solo podcast) Thanks to Jonah Burns for the SFM music.

Solving Science: AI that Can Predict Science with Jonah Lynch | S03 E06

Send us Fan Mail innovationlens.org info@innovationlens.org Most people talk about AI like it’s a faster intern. Jonah Lynch is building something closer to an intellectual compass: a system that can “read” the scientific literature at scale, map what we already know, and point toward the empty spaces where the next discoveries are most likely to happen. We unpack Innovation Lens, Jonah’s research forecasting platform that uses natural language processing, text embeddings, and geometry in vector space to detect patterns across millions of papers. He explains the core intuition behind prediction in science: some fields are too sparse to pay off, others are so crowded that the easy value is gone, and there’s a Goldilocks zone where the research landscape is ready for a breakthrough. We also talk about validation and benchmarking, why this approach can beat random guessing and even the standard “follow the adviser and find a gap” method, and what it changes for PhD topic selection, literature review, and R&D strategy. The conversation gets personal too. Jonah shares how leaving the Catholic priesthood pushed him to rebuild his life around quantitative tools and a search for truth that doesn’t rely on authority. From VC decision-making and capital allocation to philanthropy, NSF-style grant impact, and better alternatives to citation metrics, we explore where AI genuinely helps human flourishing instead of just generating content. If you enjoy episodes about scientific discovery, innovation prediction, and practical AI for research, subscribe, share this with a friend who works in science or investing, and leave us a review. What domain would you want a “map of the future” for? Support the show Help these new solutions spread by ... Subscribing wherever you listen to podcasts Leaving a 5-star review Sharing your favorite solution with your friends and network (this makes a BIG difference) Comments? Feedback? Questions? Solutions? Message us! We will do a mailbag episode. Email: solutionsfromthemultiverse@gmail.com Adam: @ajbraus - braus@hey.com Scot: @scotmaupin adambraus.com (Link to Adam's projects and books) The Perfect Show (Scot's solo podcast) Thanks to Jonah Burns for the SFM music.

Solving College: Elton University—the 1-on-1 Tutoring University | S03 E05

Send us Fan Mail Show links: Elton University Sold a Story (Podcast Mini-Series) College is supposed to be a launchpad. Too often it’s a slow, expensive maze that teaches the wrong things in the wrong order, then calls it “rigor.” We talk with Scott, the founder of Elton University, about a different design: remote, one-on-one, and built around the question most schools never ask plainly enough: what do you want to learn? We get concrete about how the model works. Instead of measuring learning by seat time and 15-week semesters, Elton uses engagement hours that count real effort: coaching sessions, reading, projects, practice, and assessment. Scott explains how that still maps to familiar outcomes like an MBA, while letting two students pursue very different goals without pretending they learned the same thing on the same schedule. We also explore why modern universities no longer “own” knowledge, and why guidance plus credible assessment may be the most valuable services a school can provide. From there we take a hard turn into evidence-based education and AI curriculum. If medicine needs proof before it reaches patients, why do schools roll out sweeping new programs on kids with little validation? The conversation hits the reading wars, what research says about phonics, and how education fads take hold. We also cover ethics boundaries, accreditation realities, and a PhD-by-publication path designed to help working adults earn citations and a stronger research portfolio without moving or quitting their jobs. If you care about higher education reform, personalized learning, online degrees, and practical alternatives to the status quo, this one is for you. Subscribe, share with a friend who’s fed up with college, and leave a review with the one change you’d make to how people learn. Support the show Help these new solutions spread by ... Subscribing wherever you listen to podcasts Leaving a 5-star review Sharing your favorite solution with your friends and network (this makes a BIG difference) Comments? Feedback? Questions? Solutions? Message us! We will do a mailbag episode. Email: solutionsfromthemultiverse@gmail.com Adam: @ajbraus - braus@hey.com Scot: @scotmaupin adambraus.com (Link to Adam's projects and books) The Perfect Show (Scot's solo podcast) Thanks to Jonah Burns for the SFM music.