This week on Now I Get It, I dive into the real reason conspiracy theories—like those around Jeffrey Epstein—are taking hold of the public imagination. Spoiler: It’s not just wild speculation. I walk you through how trust in our legal, political, and economic systems has eroded, why this distrust is historically grounded, and how the foundations of American democracy are being tested in real time.

We’ll explore how two competing visions of democracy—Greek versus Roman, Boston versus Charleston—have shaped the U.S., how corporate consolidation and “friction by design” have fueled economic inequality, and why even the noblest systems, like the Quaker-driven ethic of transparency, are breaking down. If you've ever felt that the system is rigged, this episode offers you the historical and economic context to understand why.

In this episode, you will learn:

• (00:50) – Why the Epstein case taps into real public fear about justice, power, and protection for the elite
• (02:40) – How Boston and Charleston represent two opposing visions of democracy that still divide America
• (06:00) – What the Quakers got right about business—and how their transparency ethic shaped early capitalism
• (08:45) – How index funds and diversification quietly created monopolies and crushed competition
• (10:50) – Why the educated middle class moved away from workers—and how that shift opened the door for populism
• (11:50) – The dark design behind bad customer service—and how corporations profit by making you give up
• (13:30) – The Powell Memo: a corporate lawyer’s battle plan that reshaped U.S. politics and rolled back democracy
• (17:00) – Real-life stories of healthcare inequality—and how wealth decides who lives or dies
• (18:00) – Why understanding these hidden forces is the first step to rebuilding trust and real change

Let’s connect!

linktr.ee/drprandy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm Andrew Winkler, and in this episode of Now I Get It, I dive into one of the most overlooked causes of low literacy: the surprising complexity behind how we learn to read. We explore why simply recognizing words isn't enough—and why relying on context clues or outdated teaching strategies can leave learners guessing. I also explain how our brains process sounds and why phonemic awareness (though often misunderstood) is key to unlocking fluent reading.

We unpack the real science behind reading—what happens when we go from sounds to syllables, and syllables to meaning—and how that process is shaped by language history, pronunciation quirks, and the hidden structure of English. I break down practical strategies to boost reading skills, including why teaching sound combinations is easier (and more powerful) than you think. Whether you're an educator, parent, or lifelong learner, this episode will shift how you think about literacy.

In this episode, you will learn:

• (00:36) – Why the “cost” of learning to read isn’t financial—it’s about effort, access, and missing skills
• (01:45) – The overlooked skill fluent readers have—and why most people don’t realize it’s a skill at all
• (03:10) – How using concrete visuals for vowel sounds can make reading easier for beginners
• (05:00) – Why your dialect might affect how you hear (and teach) vowel sounds like “ostrich” and “octopus”
• (06:03) – What diphthongs are—and how combining simple sounds builds real reading fluency
• (07:20) – How the ancient Greeks’ alphabet mistakes still shape how we understand literacy today
• (08:55) – The surprising rules behind which consonants can cluster—and how kids learn them naturally
• (11:51) – Why English spelling doesn’t match how we speak—and how to teach reading anyway
• (13:30) – How one foundational skill can help kids get years ahead in reading by the end of elementary school

Let’s connect!

linktr.ee/drprandy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm Andrew Winkler, and in this episode of Now I Get It, I dive into one of the most overlooked causes of low literacy: the surprising complexity behind how we learn to read. We explore why simply recognizing words isn't enough—and why relying on context clues or outdated teaching strategies can leave learners guessing. I also explain how our brains process sounds and why phonemic awareness (though often misunderstood) is key to unlocking fluent reading.

We unpack the real science behind reading—what happens when we go from sounds to syllables, and syllables to meaning—and how that process is shaped by language history, pronunciation quirks, and the hidden structure of English. I break down practical strategies to boost reading skills, including why teaching sound combinations is easier (and more powerful) than you think. Whether you're an educator, parent, or lifelong learner, this episode will shift how you think about literacy.

In this episode, you will learn:

• (01:05) - Why the cost of learning to read isn’t just financial—it’s about time, access, and attention
• (03:50) - The original meaning of the word bead—and how language evolves through misunderstanding
• (05:45) - What “phonemic awareness” actually is—and why the term itself is misleading
• (08:30) - The difference between phonemes and allophones (and why it matters when learning to read)
• (10:40) - How simple sound combinations like p + ay = pay can build reading fluency
• (13:00) - Why English spelling feels so broken—and how phonemic skills help overcome it
• (16:30) - A full walkthrough of English consonant sounds, from lips to throat
• (22:00) - How dialects and simplification shape language—and what that means for teaching literacy today

Let’s connect!

linktr.ee/drprandy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Andrew Winkler explores the psychology behind decision-making and how personality type influences whether we act quickly or hesitate. Drawing from John Cleese’s idea of the “last responsible moment,” Dr. Andy explains how people fall into two camps: those who feel pressure to decide quickly, and those who grow anxious if forced to decide too soon.

By breaking down cognitive functions—like thinking, feeling, sensing, and intuition—Dr. Andy shows how each of us has unique strengths we either turn outward or inward. These preferences not only impact how we process decisions but also how we interact with the world. This episode brings clarity to the mechanics behind Myers-Briggs types and what it means to be a "judger" or a "perceiver" at your core.

In this episode, you will learn:

• (00:30) – Why John Cleese’s “last responsible moment” is a powerful lens for understanding decision-making
• (01:10) – How personality types influence whether you feel rushed or delayed when making decisions
• (02:00) – The four core cognitive functions and how they shape how we gather and evaluate information
• (03:10) – What it means to turn your strongest mental functions inward or outward—and how it affects your interactions
• (04:30) – Why your dominant extroverted function determines your decision-making comfort zone
• (05:40) – How all of this connects to the Myers-Briggs personality model—and what it means for real-life choices

Let’s connect!

linktr.ee/drprandy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Now I Get It, I break down the real story behind tariffs—who actually pays them, how they affect the prices you see on store shelves, and why politicians might not be telling the full truth. Using real-world examples from manufacturing and retail, I explain the flow of goods and costs from producer to consumer, revealing why a 130% tariff isn’t just a number—it’s a seismic shift in how global trade plays out.

We also dive into the often-ignored parts of international trade: services and investment. While the media obsesses over the trade deficit in goods, I highlight why things like streaming movies, financial services, and foreign investments are critical components of our economy—and why excluding them from trade calculations paints a misleading picture. If you’ve ever wondered how tariffs impact more than just imported goods, this one’s for you.

In this episode, you will learn:

• (00:30) – Why the person writing the tariff check isn’t the one truly paying for it
• (02:00) – How elasticity of demand determines who absorbs the cost of import duties
• (03:20) – How a 50¢ product ends up costing $3—and what tariffs do to that chain
• (05:00) – Why a 130% tariff on Chinese goods can’t possibly be paid by Chinese manufacturers
• (06:45) – What the trade deficit leaves out—and why services and investments matter more than you think

Let’s connect!

linktr.ee/drprandy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Now I Get It, I explore what I call a "war on reality"—a conflict playing out across education, economics, and politics. Using a personal family story, I trace the long-reaching impact of the GI Bill on class structure and opportunity in America. From there, we dive into comparative advantage, the dangers of global trade dependency, and how geopolitical hotspots like Taiwan reveal hidden risks in our modern economy.

But this isn't just about history or theory. I connect the dots between economic inequality, natural selection, and the rise of right-wing authoritarianism. You’ll hear how growing class divides and misunderstood trade-offs are fueling a backlash against knowledge, freedom, and innovation—and why it’s critical for today’s knowledge workers to care deeply about protecting social cohesion if they want to preserve liberty.

In this episode, you will learn:

• (01:10) – How two brothers’ different experiences with the GI Bill illustrate the fracturing of the American middle class
• (03:45) – What “comparative advantage” really means—and how it can help or hurt global stability
• (05:50) – Why Taiwan’s chip dominance is a flashpoint in global power struggles
• (08:00) – How trade and tech-fueled inequality affects natural and sexual selection in society
• (09:30) – The political realignment of America’s working class—and the Democratic Party’s shifting identity
• (11:00) – Why rising inequality breeds authoritarianism, and how it threatens the very freedoms knowledge workers rely on

Let’s connect!

linktr.ee/drprandy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Now I Get It, Dr. Andy unpacks the often misunderstood world of tariffs—what they are, how they function, and why they matter far beyond simple price tags. He shares a real-world story about selling bomber jackets for dogs to explain how tariffs work at the ground level and discusses who ultimately bears the cost: the importer, the customer, or even the manufacturer. Through the lens of elasticity and economic incidence, Dr. Andy offers clear insights into how small changes ripple through global supply chains and everyday wallets.

But the conversation doesn’t stop there. Dr. Andy broadens the perspective, tackling the complexities of international trade, investment, and the balance of payments. He highlights the critical importance of services, intellectual property, and foreign investment in sustaining economic health—areas often overlooked in public debates about tariffs. If you want a deeper understanding of how money really moves between nations (and what gets conveniently left out of the discussion), this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

In this episode, you will learn:

• (00:50) – What tariffs really are and how they work as import taxes
• (02:20) – Why the person who writes the check isn’t always the one paying the tariff
• (04:00) – How elasticity determines who ultimately bears the cost
• (06:30) – The bigger picture of trade: goods, services, and investments
• (08:40) – Why understanding the full balance of payments is crucial for honest economic discussions

Let’s connect!

linktr.ee/drprandy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Now I Get It, I dive into the powerful role of introverted intuition—what I like to call “the seer”—and how it silently shapes our ability to love, hope, and connect. We’ll explore how this cognitive function helps us interpret symbolism, predict the future, and make meaning out of our experiences—all key ingredients in thriving relationships. Whether it’s the symbolic weight of a well-chosen gift or the subtle inclusion of someone in your imagined future, I break down how small signals can speak volumes in emotional connection.

We also look at how understanding our cognitive functions—and those of the people we care about—can radically improve how we express and receive love. From the graceful idealist to the charging logistician, each of us experiences the world in profoundly different ways. By becoming more aware of these functions and practicing gratitude for the inner “seer,” we not only honor our own intuition but also become better partners, friends, and leaders.

In this episode, you will learn:

• (01:05) - What cognitive functions are and how they influence feelings of love and being loved
• (02:20) - What “the seer” (introverted intuition) is and how it helps us predict future outcomes
• (03:30) - Why symbolic gestures like gifts carry deep meaning for intuitive personalities
• (05:10) - How hope is at the heart of every relationship—and how we can unintentionally kill it
• (07:20) - The four gesture types and what they reveal about how we experience and express love
• (10:10) - How to support someone who deeply values symbolic meaning in relationships
• (11:40) - A meditation practice to better connect with and trust your intuitive self
• (13:10) - How becoming aware of our different types can improve every kind of relationship

Let’s connect!

linktr.ee/drprandy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.