Chalking The Pavement

John X hosts the third episode of “Born In Trouble” with guests Robert Brooks (in-studio) and Andrew Johnson (host of the Men Money and Marriage Podcast). The conversation ranges from reactions to a Spanish-language halftime performance and public discomfort with other cultures, to concerns that the U.S. is increasingly divided and “full of” contradictions. They discuss faith and the idea that there is only one God/Jesus, argue that protecting vulnerable children is a moral imperative, and condemn pedophilia while criticizing how high-profile cases and trials are drip-fed to distract the public. They talk about Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell’s alleged intelligence ties, and claim Epstein did not want Black people on the island, framing it as “white on white crime,” while cautioning against pulling Black people in as scapegoats. They revisit Michael Jackson, suggesting allegations were tied to power and music publishing, describing how he amassed catalogs (including the Beatles and Sony-related publishing) and used leverage in the industry, including returning Little Richard’s rights. The episode also covers immigration and business incentives to exploit undocumented labor, including avoiding taxes/benefits, and connects this to broader U.S. history and Manifest Destiny, arguing people are “coming back” to land taken from Mexico. They speculate about hidden history, restricted sites like parts of the Grand Canyon, and debates over identity, criticizing tribalism and the use of slurs within communities. Andrew shares concerns about his daughter’s future, rising costs, and the increasing age of first-time homebuyers; they discuss 50-year mortgages as “glorified renting” and how lack of equity could discourage divorce. They debate AI’s impact on jobs, suggesting timelines are exaggerated but warning about motives, and they argue screen-based schooling and phone dependence reduce creativity and critical thinking in Gen Z. They briefly mention hypocrisy around anti-LGBTQ rhetoric (including Grindr spikes during Republican conventions) and insist people should be judged by character rather than group identity. The episode closes with a warning about scapegoating, references to “ghetto loans” from mortgage work, commentary on hypocrisy in politics and culture, and a sign-off framing the episode as “Devil Worshipers,” with plans for future episodes and a possible one-on-one with Grant Lancaster.

00:00 Cold Open and Guests
01:02 Valentine's Day Banter
02:49 Welcome to Born In Trouble
03:40 Super Bowl Halftime Debate
05:47 Do We Stand for Anything
06:19 Faith and Protecting Kids
08:40 Immigration and Business Incentives
10:57 Division and Distraction Politics
12:35 Michael Jackson Revisited
15:02 Publishing Power and Catalog Wars
18:06 Epstein Network and Race
23:01 Manifest Destiny and Hidden History
25:34 Identity Tribalism and Language
28:55 When Did It Get So Tribal
29:16 Tribal Cities Talk
31:18 Parenting and Housing Fears
32:25 Looking Rich Economy
33:22 Fifty Year Mortgages
36:16 Aging Out the Demo
37:32 AI Jobs Reality Check
42:02 Screen Age Kids
45:05 Tribalism and Community
49:19 LGBTQ and Hypocrisy
54:17 Closing Thoughts and Signoff