For the first dozen or so episodes of Elevated Thoughts, it was just Cooper and Mike. Two friends, two perspectives, one microphone setup that was honestly pretty questionable in those early days.
The format worked. We had real chemistry, real disagreements, and an audience that was growing because they could tell we weren't performing — we were actually wrestling with these issues.
But something was missing.
The Turning Point
The shift happened around our climate change episode. We were going back and forth on energy policy, carbon taxes, market-based solutions — the usual talking points. And about 40 minutes in, we both realized we were just recycling arguments we'd read online. Neither of us actually understood the science or the economics well enough to push past the surface.
So we made a call. Literally. We reached out to Verena Radulovic, an expert in corporate sustainability and market-driven climate solutions, and asked if she'd come on the show.
That episode was different. Not because she told us what to think — but because she gave us a framework for thinking about the topic that neither of us had access to on our own.
What Experts Bring
Here's what we've learned about interviewing specialists:
- They collapse false binaries. Most political debates are framed as A vs. B. Experts usually show you there's a C, D, and E that nobody's talking about.
- They have receipts. When Dr. Flint Dibble came on to discuss pseudo-archaeology, he didn't just say "that's wrong." He explained why the evidence says otherwise, with specific studies and data.
- They keep us honest. When you know an expert is coming on, you prepare differently. You can't wing it. You have to do the reading. That discipline made us better hosts.
- They surprise us. Some of the best moments in the show's history have been experts saying things that challenged our assumptions — on both sides.
The Balance
We were careful about one thing from the start: experts shouldn't replace the debate. They should elevate it.
Our format still centers around Cooper and Mike's perspectives. We still disagree. We still push back on each other. But now we have a third voice in the room — someone who can say "actually, the data shows..." and redirect the conversation toward substance.
It's the difference between two guys arguing about what they think is true, and two guys arguing about what they know is true. The arguments are better. The conclusions are more interesting. And our audience can actually learn something.
Going Forward
We're now at a point where most of our episodes feature an expert guest. From former CIA directors to archaeologists to economists to pediatricians — the range has been wild. And every single one has made the episode better than it would have been without them.
If you're a listener who's been with us since the early days, you already know the difference. If you're new, go back and listen to an early episode, then listen to a recent one. The evolution is real — and we're proud of it.
