In this New Year’s edition, Jonathan and Jeremy set aside the usual look-back and focus squarely on what lies ahead for Bermuda in 2025. From the final budget under Premier David Burt to a consequential PLP leadership race, this episode breaks down the high-stakes decisions and power shifts expected in the months ahead.

Will the corporate income tax surplus translate into real relief on housing or healthcare? What legacy is Burt aiming to leave — and who might take the reins next? The hosts examine how fiscal choices may signal political preferences, and whether new contenders like Curtis Dickinson or Alexa Lightbourne are positioned to rise. Also: the shadow of income tax, the real implications of zero unemployment, and a cynic’s take on road safety and public trust.

This is not just a political preview — it’s a clear-eyed guide to the civic and economic forces that will shape Bermuda’s future.

And, well, after everything that has happened in Venezuela, we could not resist talking about Trump and whether he is a bigger threat to the western world than Russia or China.

Jonathan Starling and Jeremy Deacon agree that membership of Caricom can be left to MPs to decide and, did the OBA get one up on the PLP with the absentee voting legislation? Listen in for analysis and debate on what is happening in Bermuda.

In the powerful finale of our Beyond the Stigma series, we confront a reality too urgent to ignore: how social media is reshaping adolescent mental health in Bermuda.

From skyrocketing screen time to sleep disruption, anxiety, and self-esteem struggles, our youth are facing an unprecedented mental health storm — and we’re only beginning to grasp its scale.

This episode unpacks the complex role of social media in young lives: both a vital tool for connection and a source of intense psychological pressure. With clinical insight and on-the-ground experience, our guests shed light on how developing brains are especially vulnerable to online environments engineered for addiction.

But this isn’t just a conversation — it’s a call to action.

We explore practical solutions: digital literacy in schools, banning phone use during class hours, making bedrooms tech-free zones, and equipping parents and educators with tools to set healthy boundaries. We also tackle the deeper challenge — teaching youth conflict resolution, emotional regulation, and critical thinking in a fast-paced digital world.

Social media isn’t going away. But we must evolve how we talk about it, teach it, and regulate its use — before more young lives are shaped by its darker edges.

Join the movement to build a mentally healthier Bermuda. Share this episode, start the conversation, and help shape a future where young people can thrive — online and off.

Trigger warning!

If this is an emergency or if you are concerned about yourown safety or that of a loved one, please call the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute Emergency hotline: 239 1111. They are open 24/7. Alternatively please call the police on 911 or go to the Emergency Room at KEMH.