Every Economic Collapse Starts EXACTLY Like This...

Tom Bilyeu's Impact Theory

Impact Theory

Education, News, News Commentary, Philosophy, Technology, Society & Culture, Business, Self-improvement

4.7 • 5.1K Ratings

🗓️ 3 November 2025

⏱️ 47 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In today’s thought-provoking deep dive, Tom Bilyeu explores one of the most pressing questions of our time: Has America fallen behind, and should we take a page from China’s playbook to catch up? Drawing on history—from America’s industrial feat during World War II to the rise of China as a global manufacturing powerhouse—he examines the economic, political, and military collision course between these two nations. Tom Bilyeu breaks down the complexities and trade-offs of free market capitalism versus the efficiency (and risks) of a command economy, unpacking how government intervention shapes innovation, competition, and even your investment portfolio. He traces America’s journey from rapid-growth freedom to managing decline through increased regulation and central planning, warning of the pitfalls of excessive government control. Tune in as Tom Bilyeu shares his take on the best path forward: advocating for a return to first principles of economic freedom, entrepreneurship, and smart, limited government intervention. This episode challenges you to rethink what it means to compete—and succeed—on the world stage. Get ready for a no-nonsense, straight-shooting analysis that’s equal parts history lesson and wake-up call for America’s future. What's up, everybody? It's Tom Bilyeu here: If you want my help... STARTING a business: join me here at ZERO TO FOUNDER: https://tombilyeu.com/zero-to-founder?utm_campaign=Podcast%20Offer&utm_source=podca[%E2%80%A6]d%20end%20of%20show&utm_content=podcast%20ad%20end%20of%20show SCALING a business: see if you qualify here.: https://tombilyeu.com/call Get my battle-tested strategies and insights delivered weekly to your inbox: sign up here.: https://tombilyeu.com/ ********************************************************************** If you're serious about leveling up your life, I urge you to check out my new podcast, Tom Bilyeu’s Mindset Playbook —a goldmine of my most impactful episodes on mindset, business, and health. Trust me, your future self will thank you. ********************************************************************** FOLLOW TOM: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tombilyeu/ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tombilyeu?lang=en Twitter: https://twitter.com/tombilyeu YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TomBilyeu ButcherBox: Your choice of holiday protein — ham or turkey in your first box, or ground beef for life — plus $20 off at https://butcherbox.com/impact Bevel Health: 1st month FREE at https://bevel.health/impact with code IMPACT Linkedin: Post your job free at https://linkedin.com/impacttheory HomeServe: Help protect your home systems – and your wallet – with HomeServe against covered repairs. Plans start at just $4.99 a month at https://homeserve.com Netsuite: Right now, get our free business guide, Demystifying AI, at https://NetSuite.com/Theory True Classic: Upgrade your wardrobe at https://trueclassic.com/impact Cape: 33% off with code IMPACT33 at https://cape.co/impact Surfshark: Go to https://surfshark.com/bilyeu or use code BILYEU to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN! AirDoctor: Up to $300 off with code IMPACT at https://airdoctorpro.com Raycon: Go to https://buyraycon.com/impact to get up to 30% off sitewide. Found Banking: Try Found for FREE at https://found.com/impact 00:00 Intro 03:54 Part 1: The Choice We Must Make 11:50 Part 2: Giving The Devil His Due: China’s Playbook and Their Incredible Rise 19:58 Part 3: America Has Some China in its Past 30:07 Part 4: The Dangerous Path Forward Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	On December 7th of 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor,
0:05.0	sending much of the U.S.'s naval fleet to the sea floor and killing thousands of Americans.
0:11.0	The next day, the United States declared war.
0:14.0	History would mark this infamous day as one of the starkest examples of fuck around and find out. Admiral Yamamoto is often quoted as saying,
0:24.4	I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve.
0:32.1	Whether the quote is apocryphal or not, the statement is true. What the US didS. did next is unparalleled in human history.
0:40.7	On a dime, we pointed our incredible industrial base single-mindedly to winning the war.
0:47.7	What followed was industrial shock and awe. American industry produced nearly 100,000 tanks, 200,000 artillery pieces,
1:00.0	and a staggering 300,000 aircraft. All of that was in addition to manufacturing nearly two-thirds of all allied military equipment.
1:11.6	A feat of production so incredible that it buried the access powers
1:16.6	and ensured none of us had to learn German or Japanese.
1:21.6	America proved we had the will to fight and the ability to outproduce anyone on the planet.
1:28.1	We mobilized like a command economy briefly, and then we unwound it once we were again living
1:34.8	free. And what did we do with that incredibly well-earned freedom?
1:40.4	We went back to sleep. We globalized. We decayed. And we have fallen behind. Way behind.
1:48.0	If you look at the numbers, China now looks far more like the World War II era US than the US does.
1:56.0	China is now the world's industrial superpower. They outproduce everyone. And because they're a top-down
2:04.5	command economy, they can move far faster than the U.S. with all of its political gridlock.
2:10.8	But they're a dictatorship. Let that hang in the air while you think about this. Right now,
2:16.4	the stakes are sky high.
2:18.2	The US and China are on a collision course,
2:21.5	economically, politically, and militarily.
	...

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