Brad Polumbo joins us to break down today’s political discourse, right-wing media shifts, and cancel culture in the Trump era. We explore how social media accelerates public opinion swings, why checks and balances matter more than ever, and what independent media can do to keep both sides honest.Brad explains how Trump narrowed the “big tent” of conservatism, the internal GOP fights over fiscal responsibility, omnibus bills, and proposed age limit reforms. They also dive into immigration policy, focusing on due process versus national security. Plus, Brad shares audience engagement trends—rising social division and heated gender identity debates reshaping online communities.🔑 Key Topics:• Political discourse & media polarization• Cancel culture’s impact on debate• Evolution of right-wing media in the Trump era• GOP fiscal battles, omnibus bills, age limit reforms• Immigration policy & due process• Social division & gender identity trends👉 Like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes of Elevated Thoughts. #BradPolumbo #ElevatedThoughts #MediaPolarization #CancelCulture #Conservatism00:00 Restoring Productive Discourse03:42 The Evolution of Right-Wing Media07:28 Navigating the New Independent Media Landscape09:37 The Pendulum of Political Discourse12:53 Checks and Balances in a Polarized Era17:14 Legislating for Possibilities vs. Realities22:01 The Role of Due Process in Immigration Policy28:12 Defining Modern Conservatism30:46 The Evolution of Conservatism33:06 Deficits and Spending: A Conservative Dilemma36:29 The Internal Struggle of the Republican Party39:58 The Omnibus Bill Crisis41:51 Age Limits in Politics: A Necessary Reform50:15 Engaging with the Audience: A Two-Way Conversation𝕏 Follow Brad on X → https://x.com/brad_polumbo🛍️ Support Elevated Thoughts by shopping our affiliate link! https://www.amazon.com/shop/broopersimms🧠 Find more from us → http://www.ElevatedThoughtsPod.comWe are also on YouTube and Apple Podcasts!🎧 YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@ElevatedThoughtsPod🎙️ Apple Pods → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/elevated-thoughts/id1736414535💬 What do you think? Comment below!

We sat down with Dr. Hugh Thomas, field director at Zagora and co‑lead of the Pack_Up archaeological project in AlUla, Saudi Arabia, to separate sensational pseudo‑archaeology from rigorous science.

From the 7,000‑year‑old mustatil ritual rectangles scattered across the desert to the epic excavations at Zagora in Greece, Dr. Thomas takes us behind the scenes of real fieldwork: the stakes of destructive excavation, the necessity of ethical reburial of human remains, and why each dig is literally a “one‑shot” opportunity to preserve context.

We explore how community archaeology empowers local stakeholders to combat conspiracy theories and how groundbreaking lab methods like radiocarbon (C¹⁴) and bioapatite dating, isotope analysis, and even protein fingerprinting of ancient cattle teeth, are transforming our understanding of Neolithic ritual practices.

If you’ve ever wondered how honest archaeology stacks up against fast‑and‑loose myths about Atlantis, aliens, or lost super‑civilizations, this is the conversation to stick around for.

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And Follow the Pack_Up Project here → https://x.com/PAKEP_KSA

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00:00 Introduction to Archaeology and Its Misconceptions

02:54 Real Experiences in Archaeology

06:02 Excavation Techniques and Ethical Considerations

09:04 Challenges of Field Work in Remote Locations

12:00 The Reality of Excavating Human Remains

14:55 Understanding Ancient Structures in Saudi Arabia

18:03 The Significance of Mustatil Structures

20:52 Ethics in Archaeology and Human Remains

23:56 Cultural Perspectives on Archaeological Practices

33:08 Ancient Cults and Community Structures

36:26 Modern Archaeological Techniques and Discoveries

39:24 The Role of Local Communities in Archaeology

42:37 Challenging Archaeological Orthodoxy

46:11 The Importance of Science Communication in Archaeology

49:44 Adapting Theories in Light of New Evidence

55:44 The Physical Demands of Archaeological Excavation

01:04:34 Engaging with the Public and Future of Archaeology

Classical archaeologist Dr. Joseph Wilson (UMass Amherst) takes us inside the world of archaeological echo chambers and alt-history conspiracies.

Learn how click-bait communicators block critical voices, why “symmetrical vases” aren’t proof of lost ice-age civilizations in the archaeological record, and how forged artifacts flood the antiquities market. Joe breaks down the real scientific methods—field excavation, provenance analysis, isotope testing—that professional archaeologists use to separate fact from fiction.

Whether you’re curious about Atlantis myths, Gobekli Tepe preservation, or the tactics behind echo-chamber thinking, Dr. Wilson arms you with the tools to spot bad archaeology and demand better discourse. Hit subscribe and ring the bell so you never miss another deep dive with Elevated Thoughts.

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#archaeology #ancienthistory #debunkingmyths

00:00 – Intro & Podcast Welcome

02:09 – Meet Dr. Joseph Wilson

02:50 – Joe’s Academic Background & Early Research

07:10 – The Rise of Alternative Archaeology Online

13:57 – Science vs. Pseudoscience in the Field

20:00 – Confronting Echo Chambers & Troll Tactics

26:18 – Authentic vs. Forged Artifacts Explained

32:00 – Site Preservation & Infrastructure Myths

40:08 – Archaeology as Humanities & Science

50:45 – Funding Cuts & Policy Challenges

57:44 – Closing Thoughts & Where to Find Joe