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With new listeners joining the show, this short episode is a reset and an invitation. I share what Kyle Talks is, who it’s for, and why this mission matters, especially in a world shaped by outrage, labels, and shallow disagreement.

Kyle Talks exists to help us:

• Talk across political, social, religious, and cultural differences
• Disagree without dehumanizing
• Replace outrage with curiosity
• Build emotional maturity, self-control, and better listening habits

Understanding does not mean agreement—but it does mean treating people like people.

In this episode, I explain:

• The heart behind Kyle Talks
• Why better conversations are a cultural necessity, not a luxury
• What you can expect from guest conversations, solo reflections, and segments like Ficonomy
• How everyday listeners can apply these ideas in real life—at home, work, and online

If you’re new here, welcome.
If you’ve been listening for a while, thank you for helping build a culture of better conversations—one dialogue at a time.

If this episode resonates, consider sharing it with someone who values thoughtful conversation.

Social Media:

Insta/X: kyleTHEhorton

Youtube: Kyletalkss

Tiktok: KyleTalkss

Intro: Head In The Clouds by Matthew Morelock

Outro: Surfaces Type Beat - Jellyfish Beats

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In this episode of Ficonomy, Kyle breaks down three major economic stories shaping everyday financial decisions — without jargon, panic, or political spin.

This episode focuses on what’s happening, why it matters, and what you can actually do today.

📉 Inflation: Why Prices Still Feel High

The latest inflation data (PCE — the Fed’s preferred measure) shows inflation has slowed but remains above the Federal Reserve’s target. This means borrowing costs are likely to stay elevated longer than many hoped.

What this means for you:
Money still doesn’t stretch as far, and interest rates on loans and credit cards aren’t coming down quickly.

What you can do now:

• Review your budget with essentials in mind
• Prioritize paying down high-interest debt
• Avoid assuming rate cuts are coming soon

💳 Credit Card Interest Rate Cap — Promise or Politics?

A proposal to cap credit card interest rates at 10% has sparked headlines, but it’s not law and faces major hurdles. Even if passed, it could change how banks offer credit, rewards, and approvals.

What this means for you:
Waiting for policy changes to fix high-interest debt isn’t a strategy.

What you can do now:

• Explore balance transfers or lower-interest options
• Reduce revolving balances where possible
• Understand your APR and payment structure

👨‍💼 Jobs Report: Slower Growth, Steady Employment

The latest jobs report shows slower job growth, even though unemployment remains low. This signals a cooling labor market, not a collapsing one.

What this means for you:
Wage growth may slow, and job mobility may feel tighter.

What you can do now:

• Focus on skill development and career stability
• Build or reinforce an emergency fund
• Avoid overextending financially based on job optimism

🧠 Why This Episode Matters

Economic headlines affect how we borrow, save, and plan — even if we don’t follow markets daily. Ficonomy exists to make these moments understandable and actionable.

Links:

Article 1

Article 2

Article 3

Social Media:

Insta/X: kyleTHEhorton

Youtube: Kyletalkss

Tiktok: KyleTalkss

Intro: Head In The Clouds by Matthew Morelock

Outro: Surfaces Type Beat - Jellyfish Beats

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In this follow-up episode of Kyle Talks, Kyle reflects on his recent conversation with Adam Swart, CEO of Crowds on Demand. After sitting with the discussion on paid protesting, ethics, and influence, Kyle breaks down what challenged him, what surprised him, and what questions still don’t have easy answers.

This episode isn’t about conclusions, it’s about processing, nuance, and learning how to hold complicated ideas without shutting down conversation.

What This Episode Covers:

• What I didn’t expect going into the conversation
• Moments that challenged my own assumptions about protesting and influence
• The moral gray areas of paid demonstrations
• Where free speech, money, and power begin to blur
• Why discomfort doesn’t mean a conversation shouldn’t happen
• What I’m still wrestling with after the interview
• How we talk about controversial systems without dehumanizing people

Key Reflections

• Not everything is black and white, especially when money enters social movements
• Intent vs. impact matters more than slogans
• Listening doesn’t equal endorsement, but it does equal maturity
• If we can’t talk about uncomfortable topics, someone else will, poorly

Why This Episode Exists:

This podcast exists to create space for thoughtful, respectful conversations, especially when topics feel uncomfortable or emotionally charged. Reflection episodes like this one are about slowing down, thinking critically, and inviting listeners into the process — not just the final opinion.

Continue the Conversation:

• Listen to the original episode with Adam Swart
• Share your thoughts respectfully in the comments
• Disagreement is welcome — disrespect is not

Social Media:

Insta/X: kyleTHEhorton

Youtube: Kyletalkss

Tiktok: KyleTalkss

Intro: Head In The Clouds by Matthew Morelock

Outro: Surfaces Type Beat - Jellyfish Beats

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Kyle Talks with Adam Swart, CEO of Crowds on Demand

In this episode of Kyle Talks, I sit down with Adam Swart, the founder and CEO of Crowds on Demand, a company that organizes and manages demonstrations, rallies, and public advocacy campaigns.

This is a conversation I went into without a fixed conclusion — and that’s intentional.

Adam’s work exists at the intersection of belief, optics, influence, and ethics. Some people see it as strategic messaging. Others see it as manipulation. Rather than tell you what to think, this episode is about slowing down and actually talking through the discomfort.

In this conversation, we explore:

• How modern protests and public movements are organized
• The difference between organic expression and coordinated messaging
• Why being paid to advocate feels morally complicated to many people
• Where Adam personally draws ethical lines in his work
• Whether compensation invalidates belief or participation
• How media optics shape what the public perceives as “authentic”
• What this industry reveals about human motivation and persuasion
• How listeners can stay curious without becoming cynical

This episode isn’t about defending or condemning an industry.
It’s about understanding how influence works and what it means for all of us trying to navigate public conversations honestly.

If you’ve ever found yourself unsure how to feel about modern activism, messaging, or protest culture — this conversation is for you.

About the Guest

Adam Swart is the founder and CEO of Crowds on Demand, a firm that specializes in organizing advocacy campaigns, demonstrations, and public engagement efforts across a wide range of issues.

His work has been featured by major media outlets, and he brings firsthand insight into how modern public movements are built, funded, and presented to the world.

Why This Episode Matters

Kyle Talks exists to bring back the art of conversation — especially around topics that are uncomfortable, polarizing, or misunderstood.

This episode asks a simple but difficult question:

If a message is true, but engineered, does it change how you feel about it?

If this conversation challenged you, intrigued you, or made you pause — that’s the point.

Let’s talk.

Social Media:

Insta/X: kyleTHEhorton

Youtube: Kyletalkss

Tiktok: KyleTalkss

Intro: Head In The Clouds by Matthew Morelock

Outro: Surfaces Type Beat - Jellyfish Beats

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This is the first episode of 2026 — and it sets the tone for everything that comes next.

In this solo episode of Kyle Talks, Kyle lays out a simple but ambitious goal for the year ahead: bring back the art of conversation.

Not perfect conversations.
Not easy conversations.
Real conversations.

Whether your goal this year is personal growth, rebuilding confidence, learning discipline, or simply connecting better with people around you, this episode is an invitation to step forward — together.

In this episode, Kyle reflects on:

• Why goals mean nothing without action
• How having better conversations is a form of discipline
• Why understanding does not require agreement
• The role of emotion in disagreement — and how to handle it
• When it’s healthy to walk away from a conversation
• Why casual conversations matter just as much as serious ones
• How self-control changes the tone of dialogue
• What it means to listen in a culture that rewards shouting
• Why Kyle Talks exists — and where it’s headed in 2026

This episode isn’t about being right.
It’s about being present, curious, and human.

Kyle challenges listeners to take responsibility for the conversations they’re part of — at home, online, at work, and in the world — and reminds us that changing culture doesn’t start with institutions. It starts with people choosing to talk.

A question for listeners:

What’s one conversation you’ve been avoiding — and what would it look like to approach it with honesty and self-control?

The Mission for 2026

Kyle Talks is about talking to people again.
Agreeing. Disagreeing. Laughing. Listening.
Building connection without dehumanization.

This year is about showing up imperfectly and continuing anyway.

If this episode resonated with you, consider leaving a review or sharing it with someone you’d like to have a better conversation with. Invite them to the table.

Let’s talk.

Social Media:

Insta/X: kyleTHEhorton

Youtube: Kyletalkss

Tiktok: KyleTalkss

Intro: Head In The Clouds by Matthew Morelock

Outro: Surfaces Type Beat - Jellyfish Beats

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Last episode of 2025 ends with a bang and NOT a whimper.

In this episode, Kyle goes over year-end numbers for the podcast as well as what conversations stuck out the most to him and where the podcast is headed in 2026!

What episode this year affected and made you think the most?

What episode was your favorite?

Thank you for the conversations, shares, listens, & follows.

2025 was a BIG year for us - 2026 will be even bigger.

Be safe and look forward to continuing the conversation next year :)

Social Media:

Insta/X: kyleTHEhorton

Youtube: Kyletalkss

Tiktok: KyleTalkss

Intro: Head In The Clouds by Matthew Morelock

Outro: Surfaces Type Beat - Jellyfish Beats

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What happens when conviction meets compensation?

In this episode of Kyle Talks, Kyle sits with a question that doesn’t have an easy answer. Is it wrong to be paid to spread a message if you genuinely believe in it? And why does the idea make so many of us uncomfortable?

Rather than taking a side, this episode explores the gray space between belief, influence, transparency, and trust. From lobbying and brand partnerships to political messaging and online influence, Kyle examines why money attached to belief feels different than money attached to work and why that discomfort matters.

This is not an episode about outrage or exposure. It’s about curiosity, ethics, and learning how to think more carefully about the messages we consume and the people who deliver them.

In this episode, Kyle explores:

• Why being paid to advocate feels different than being paid to work
• How belief becomes personal, emotional, and tied to identity
• The difference between paid messaging and paid belief
• Whether transparency changes how we perceive influence
• Where persuasion ends and manipulation begins
• Why discomfort can be a sign that a conversation is worth having

Kyle doesn’t offer a clean conclusion. Instead, he invites listeners into the uncertainty and asks them to wrestle with the question alongside him.

Links:

Harvard Study on Comp/Trust

Lobbying/Paid Advocacy Study

Paid Political Messaging

Pysch of Persuasion

Transparency in Media

Social Media:

Insta/X: kyleTHEhorton

Youtube: Kyletalkss

Tiktok: KyleTalkss

Intro: Head In The Clouds by Matthew Morelock

Outro: Surfaces Type Beat - Jellyfish Beats

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In today’s episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on something we all feel but rarely talk about:

Why does so much of what we see online — protests, trends, “viral” moments, political messages — feel engineered?

And more importantly…
Where’s the line between honest persuasion and outright manipulation?

Kyle breaks down the gray area between influence and orchestration, exploring questions like:

What we cover in this episode:

• Why most public messaging (left, right, corporate, activist) is coordinated
• How “organic” viral moments often aren’t organic at all
• The blurry boundary between influence, strategy, and manipulation
• How social media algorithms amplify emotion — not truth
• Why transparency matters more than ever
• The ethics of engineering a message, even if the message itself is true
• How orchestrated narratives shape our culture without us realizing it

Kyle also shares:

• Research on political communication
• Studies on influencer persuasion
• Data on media trust and social media virality
• Real examples of modern messaging tactics (without naming groups or pointing fingers)

The big question we leave you with:

“If a message is true… but engineered… does it change how you feel about it?”

This episode is all about curiosity, not conclusions — and invites listeners to think deeply about the media ecosystem we live in, and how it shapes what we believe.

Links:

MIT Sloan research on misinformation spreading faster than truth

Study: Shares without clicks on Facebook and social platforms

UNESCO influencer fact checking study

KFF misinformation poll snapshot

Social Media:

Insta/X: kyleTHEhorton

Youtube: Kyletalkss

Tiktok: KyleTalkss

Intro: Head In The Clouds by Matthew Morelock

Outro: Surfaces Type Beat - Jellyfish Beats

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