Is AI Really Destroying 85% of Jobs?

Are we witnessing the end of college as the default path? In this conversation, Michael Thompson and Brady Knowlton break down the seismic changes reshaping America’s future of work, education, and opportunity—from AI predicted to automate 85% of jobs, to the stunning comeback of skilled trades like welding and HVAC, and the true toll of student debt and wage stagnation.

You’ll learn:
- Why many kids may skip college for blue-collar prosperity
- The real numbers behind AI-driven job loss and economic transformation
- How policy, regulation, and global competition (especially with China) are accelerating change
- What parents and young people need to do now to prepare for the next decade
- Success stories and cautionary tales from the trenches of tech, investing, and re-industrialization
- The iconic “133-to-2” nuclear stat that explains America’s stalled progress
- Why hands-on skills and “AI-native” learning could be the new golden ticket
- The surprising future for education, apprenticeships, and practical skills

This is a grounded, data-backed look at the crossroads facing families, workers, and investors as automation, regulation, and global competition rewrite the rules.

00:00 - Introduction: The Future of Work and Education
00:13 - The Value of Blue-Collar Careers
00:23 - How Technology Shifts Impact Jobs and Prosperity
00:42 - Private vs. Public Markets: The Role of Regulation
01:13 - Unpacking the Regulatory Burdens on Public Companies
02:36 - The Need for Productive Regulation
03:14 - ESG's Impact on the Oil and Gas Industry
03:46 - A Critical Look at ESG and DEI Policies
05:01 - A Vision for a New Era of American Innovation
05:59 - Preparing Children for the New World
06:50 - Rethinking the Necessity of a College Degree
07:41 - Two Educational Paths for the Future: AI vs. Trades
09:13 - The Future of Learning: AI, Tutors, and Social Development
10:14 - The Resurgence of Apprenticeships and Trade Schools
11:31 - How to Value Pre-Revenue, World-Changing Companies
12:25 - Inside the Underwriting Process for Innovative Tech
14:41 - Financial Modeling for the Future: Tesla as a Case Study
16:53 - Investing Strategy: Why Picking the "Best" Company Matters
18:10 - An Alternative Investment Framework: Finding the "Best Situations"
19:31 - A Deep Dive into Bankruptcy Investing: The Six Flags Story
21:38 - Personal Motivation and the Dawn of a "Golden Age"
22:59 - Defining the "Golden Age": Overcoming Decades of Stagnation
24:25 - The Inspiration of Working with Visionary Engineers
25:15 - Will Automation Lead to Prosperity or Peril?
25:39 - A Historical Perspective on Automation and Job Creation
27:16 - How AI Will Transform the Nature of Work
28:14 - The Competitive Imperative: Why We Must Embrace New Technology
28:44 - Conclusion