Shades of Jade Podcast

Rodger Friedman Returns: Trump's Cabinet, Immigration Talk, and Political Trust

In this conversation, Rodger Friedman and host Sam dive into current events, including the Trump administration’s handling of immigration and deportations, the strength of Trump’s cabinet picks, and the media’s role in shaping narratives. They also tackle hot-button topics like the Eric Swalwell scandal and his resignation, Spencer Pratt’s unconventional run for LA mayor, actors pivoting to podcasting, and the lingering questions around Biden’s cognitive health and elder abuse. Rodger shares insights from his books — including the interactive “18 Wealth Lessons” and the Amazon bestseller “Erasing America” — while offering practical advice on evaluating political candidates based on trust, character, and competence. Filled with humor, personal anecdotes, and sharp political commentary, this episode blends retirement wisdom, cultural critique, and no-nonsense perspectives on today’s headlines. - To subscribe to The Critic Letter, email Rodger at EOCritic@protonmail.com  - To find all my deals, visit: ⁠https://mydeals.page/7fu7⁠ [https://mydeals.page/7fu7]  - Want to be a guest on Shades of Jade Podcast? Send Samantha Jade Wooldrik a message on PodMatch, here: ⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/shadesofjadepod⁠ [https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/shadesofjadepod]  - Music: Mozart Horn Concerto No. 4, K. 495 – III. Rondo: Allegro vivace, performed by Dennis Brain (public domain recording from Archive.org)

Iran Deal Breakthrough, Fraud Raids & Redistricting Wins: May 23-29, 2026

In this episode, I cover news related to Operation Epic Fury, security breaches, the War on Fraud, redistricting, Epstein-related news, and noteworthy tidbits.  - Check out Big Fork Brands (bacon sausage, pork jerky, & Chicago sauce) and use my promo code JADE for 20% off your entire order! https://promocode.to/big-fork-brands/jade-k35 [https://promocode.to/big-fork-brands/jade-k35]  - Or to view all my deals, visit: https://mydeals.page/7fu7 [https://mydeals.page/7fu7]   - Want to be a guest on Shades of Jade Podcast? Send Sam Wooldrik a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/shadesofjadepod [https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/shadesofjadepod]  - Music: Mozart Horn Concerto No. 4, K. 495 – III. Rondo: Allegro vivace, performed by Dennis Brain (public domain recording from Archive.org)

Cutting Edge Faith: Bringing Biblical Christianity into Work, Politics & Culture

In this insightful conversation, Dr. Ryan S. Howard—former corporate leader, biblical scholar, and host of the Cutting Edge Faith podcast—joins Sam to discuss what it truly means to live out biblical Christianity in every area of life. Dr. Howard shares his journey from the corporate world into ministry, consulting, and global outreach, emphasizing how following Christ is a transformative partnership with God that applies to the workplace, family, politics, and culture—not just Sunday mornings. The discussion explores the global persecution of Christians (including the rapid underground growth in Iran), the spiritual battle between good and evil playing out in society, the importance of Christian influence in government and education, and practical ways to bring faith into the marketplace through character, prayer, and obedience. With personal stories of divine guidance at work, critiques of moral compromise in churches, and encouragement to return to spiritual basics like Bible reading, prayer, and listening to God, this episode offers a grounded, biblically rooted call to stand firm, understand the times, and actively partner with God in daily life. - To start your walk with Christ or accelerate the walk you’re already on, visit: https://howtogrowyourfaith.com [https://howtogrowyourfaith.com/]   - To find all my deals, visit: https://mydeals.page/7fu7 [https://mydeals.page/7fu7]  - Want to be a guest on Shades of Jade Podcast? Send Samantha Jade Wooldrik a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/shadesofjadepod [https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/shadesofjadepod]  - Music: Mozart Horn Concerto No. 4, K. 495 – III. Rondo: Allegro vivace, performed by Dennis Brain (public domain recording from Archive.org)

"Missouri is Rigged": Dan Schaefer on His Campaign, Redistricting Chaos & Cross-Aisle Politics

In this return visit to the show, Missouri Democratic state representative candidate Dan Schaefer (District 97) joins Sam for an honest, wide-ranging conversation about his ongoing campaign, the surprising level of voter engagement he's seeing on the ground, and why he's sticking with his provocative message that "Missouri is rigged"—not in elections, but in systemic ways that favor the powerful. Dan breaks down the chaotic redistricting battle playing out in Missouri, including petitions, court fights, and county-level pushback, while contrasting it with national political turmoil. The discussion also covers a controversial ballot measure to eliminate the state income tax by massively expanding sales taxes on services (from haircuts and doctor visits to Netflix), Missouri's strong unemployment retraining programs, criminal justice reform stories involving long prison sentences and wrongful convictions, and even an innovative AI-based idea for preventing deer-vehicle collisions on highways. Throughout, Dan emphasizes building cross-aisle relationships and learning from over 200 interviews about American political culture. A grounded, insightful episode full of real-talk on state-level politics and practical solutions. - Visit https://www.dan4mo.com [https://www.dan4mo.com/] to explore Dan's platform, learn where he stands on key issues, and subscribe to his newsletter, Frontline Progressive.  - To find all my deals, visit: https://mydeals.page/7fu7 [https://mydeals.page/7fu7]  - Want to be a guest on Shades of Jade Podcast? Send Samantha Jade Wooldrik a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/shadesofjadepod [https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/shadesofjadepod]  - Music: Mozart Horn Concerto No. 4, K. 495 – III. Rondo: Allegro vivace, performed by Dennis Brain (public domain recording from Archive.org)

Iran Tensions, Fraud Busts & Redistricting Gains: May 16-22, 2026

In this episode, I cover news related to Operation Epic Fury, the war on fraud, redistricting advances and election integrity efforts, immigration enforcement, renovations around Washington, DC, the Anti-Weaponization Fund, and noteworthy tidbits.  - Check out Zivolife (exclusive patented superfood) and use my promo code JADE for 30% off your entire order! https://promocode.to/big-fork-brands/jade-k35 [https://promocode.to/big-fork-brands/jade-k35]   - Or to view all my deals, visit: https://mydeals.page/7fu7 [https://mydeals.page/7fu7]   - Want to be a guest on Shades of Jade Podcast? Send Samantha Jade Wooldrik a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/shadesofjadepod [https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/shadesofjadepod]  - Music: Mozart Horn Concerto No. 4, K. 495 – III. Rondo: Allegro vivace, performed by Dennis Brain (public domain recording from Archive.org)