Think First with Jim Detjen

Send Jim a Topic to ExploreSeason 2 of Think First is coming — and it’s going much deeper.In this special announcement episode, Jim Detjen shares what’s changing, why the show is evolving beyond headlines and culture-war reactions, and how Think First is expanding into a broader long-form exploration of perception, memory, belief, institutional trust, consciousness, mythology, AI, narrative...

Send Jim a Topic to ExploreWe love to talk about the future — rankings, opportunities, exposure.But real development doesn’t happen out there.It happens today.After nearly a decade running one of the most demanding youth basketball camps in the country, I’ve watched the same pattern repeat itself: kids grow fastest when the environment protects the present — not the promise.In this episode, we...

Send Jim a Topic to ExploreThe Southern Poverty Law Center.This one’s simple.A story comes out… and you read it once.Then twice.And at some point you stop and think:“Wait… is this real?”In this short episode, we walk through one pattern:What it looks like when the thing fighting a problem… might also depend on that problem continuing.No conclusions.Just something to notice.Use code THINKFIRST for...

Send Jim a Topic to ExploreFor this week only, Distorted is available at reader edition pricing—$16.99, down from its standard $22.99.If you’ve been meaning to read it, now’s the moment.This is not a book about obvious lies. It’s about how narratives are shaped—across media, institutions, technology, and culture—and how those narratives quietly influence what we accept as true.If it resonates,...

Send Jim a Topic to ExploreA quick update on the future of Think First.Something interesting is happening.A lot of you have said the same thing:You like how we think through topics on Think First…but you also want to know where I actually land.That’s fair.Because there’s a difference between understanding a story…and deciding what you think about it.So starting in April, the show is...

Send Jim a Topic to ExploreBefore any new UAP footage drops… people already know what it means.Aliens. Demons. Cover-up. Revelation.But what if the real story isn’t what these objects are—it’s how quickly we decide?In this episode, we examine a lesser-discussed tension inside the UAP conversation: how belief systems shape interpretation, even at the highest levels of government.Drawing from...

Send Jim a Topic to ExploreNot all podcasts are created equal — and some are just louder versions of the same script.In this bonus episode, I’m sharing the shows that sharpen my thinking, challenge the narrative, and occasionally make me laugh out loud while questioning everything. From history and psychology to politics and media spin, here’s what’s in my feed — and why it might deserve a spot...

Send Jim a Topic to ExploreLast June, we were told Iran’s nuclear program was “obliterated.”Today, we’re back in full war posture.Re-posting Episode 24.Iran’s Nukes or Narrative? · What Did We Really Obliterate?Sometimes the most important question isn’t new.It’s whether we remember what was said.Listen again.Notice the language.Then compare it to today.——————————(June 26,2025) The headlines said...

Send Jim a Topic to ExploreIn this episode of Think First, we slow down Kim Dotcom's viral February 15 claim that Palantir was hacked by an AI agent, revealing mass surveillance of Trump, Vance, and Musk; blackmail archives; CIA backdoors; nuclear/bio-weapons for Ukraine; and AI targeting in Gaza. Nine million views later — and eight full days on — zero data, logs, screenshots, or independent...

Send Jim a Topic to ExploreWe were told marijuana was basically harmless.Not perfect — but harmless enough.Now even some of the institutions that once championed legalization are adjusting their tone.Daily use is higher than many predicted.Potency is stronger than it used to be.Regulation is catching up.This episode isn’t about returning to prohibition.It’s about something more interesting.How...