In the twentieth episode, Robert and guest Ben Spak discuss the abstinence rule of psychology, a Freudian concept that encourages therapy clients to avoid external gratifications, such as smoking or idle conversation, to preserve emotional energy for the therapeutic process. The conversation moves fluidly from the technical abstractions of "vibe coding", web development, and Ben's project launchpad, builders.to, to the volatile reality of cryptocurrency rug-pulls and Robert's creation of a revenge token named "KASD" (Kill All scamming Devs). They examine the stark contrasts of their early lives, from Robert's impoverished childhood in Hollywood, dumpster diving for electronics, waiting in a line just to "see" the early internet, and a harsh encounter with Quincy Jones, to Ben outgrowing the mindset of a strongly conservative Florida town before moving to progressive Denver. Topics range from the technicalities of playing nine-string headless guitars and swapping memories of metal bands like Chiodos to the necessity of embracing AI tools like Cursor to avoid being "left behind" by impending technological shifts like AR glasses and brain-computer interfaces (BCIs). They explore concepts like the inevitability of history repeating itself and the merits of radical governance, debating left-leaning libertarianism versus the idea of monarchism, through the lens of staying sober, surviving personal traumas, and adapting to a rapidly changing world.

You can find Ben's project, builders.to: HERE

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ON CROSS THEORY, EMAIL crosstheorypod@gmail.com.

ALL ARE WELCOME. I DON’T CARE WHO YOU ARE OR WHAT YOU’RE SELLING.

In the nineteenth episode, Robert and guest Manuel Harari Blanco discuss absolutism, a philosophical and political concept regarding a government operating without constitutional restrictions. The conversation moves fluidly from the technical abstractions of artificial intelligence hallucinations, and quantum computing to the gritty reality of navigating oppressive bureaucracy and sudden IRS debt in Spain. They examine the iterative processes of engineering and manufacturing, from Toyota's post-war principles of Kaizen and Kaikaku to the frustrations of rote obedience in traditional education, and the necessity of adapting one's skill set in the face of inevitable technological shifts rather than playing the victim. Topics range from the restrictive nature of government overreach and Orwellian warnings to Manuel's harrowing experience dealing with bilateral wrist cysts that derailed his professional music career, and they explore concepts like the inevitability of radical innovation and overcoming personal trauma through the lens of developing "PickTwist," a specialized, highly ergonomic guitar pick born from physical limitations and the drive to help injured musicians.

You can find and buy PickTwist on the official website: HERE

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ON CROSS THEORY, EMAIL crosstheorypod@gmail.com.

ALL ARE WELCOME. I DON’T CARE WHO YOU ARE OR WHAT YOU’RE SELLING.

In the eighteenth episode, Robert and his guest, Alexander Prestia a.k.a. airport, the creator of the literary periodical, miniMAG, discuss absolute zero, a physics concept defining the lowest possible temperature that is the same for all substances. The conversation moves fluidly from the physical extremes of freezing expatriate life in Harbin, China, to the modern realities of running an indie literary magazine and utilizing AI-generated artwork. They examine the evolving landscape of writing and literary communities, from Robert's "beef" with Bret Easton Ellis over book titles to the structural genius of Mark Z. Danielewski, and the necessity of rooting fictional inspiration in the gritty realities of human behavior rather than pure abstraction. Topics range from the enduring legacy of Robert’s writing mentor, docufiction creator Harold Jaffe, to bizarre personal escapades involving eating pig brains and a half-lion, half-gazelle "Hunter/Hunted" burger. They explore concepts like the performative nature of political movements such as Occupy Wall Street, the hidden wealth of the global elite, and the surprising merits of monarchism, viewing societal power structures and the creative process through the lens of history, real-life trauma, and survival.

miniMAG can be found: ⁠HERE

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ON CROSS THEORY, EMAIL crosstheorypod@gmail.com.

ALL ARE WELCOME. I DON’T CARE WHO YOU ARE OR WHAT YOU’RE SELLING.