Épisodes

  • Bonus Sample: On Death & Being Human

    Bonus Sample: On Death & Being Human
    Mar 2 2026
    Cult leaders, religious fanatics, dictators, and charlatans all have one thing in common: they exploit our fear of death. Humans act out “immortality projects” in the form of religion, culture, and political ideologies as unconscious ways to override the terror we feel at our uniquely self-aware knowledge that we will one day die. Where the orthodox priest promises eternal life, the cult leader might predict an alien apocalypse, while the authoritarian strongman invokes the transcendent glory of leading a chosen nation and race. In light of a recent death in the family, Julian leans into Ernest Becker’s Pulitzer Prize winning cultural anthropology text, The Denial of Death. He also draws on poetry and the archetypal psychology of Donald Kalsched to ask the big questions. Does existential acceptance of death lead inevitably to nihilism? Is belief in God(s) and an afterlife necessary? Are poor or deeply traumatized people only left with despair in the absence of supernatural faith? Will children raised with no religion have no moral compass? A rich discussion of philosophy and psychology alongside poems, myths, fairy tales, and deeply personal story-telling, especially about how to tell his 7-year-old that grandma won’t be back for Xmas. Not to worry, though. This is, ultimately, an uplifting journey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    9 min
  • Brief: Re-reading Casey Means

    Brief: Re-reading Casey Means
    Feb 28 2026
    Casey Means was grilled by some Senators at her hearing for nomination of Surgeon General on Wednesday. Others lobbed softballs. Derek revisits the book that made her a star on the MAHA circuit, Good Energy, to detail all the misleading claims and outright misinformation. Show Notes Well, That Didn’t Sound Like Casey Means Casey Means, Critic of Mainstream Medicine, Poised to Become Nation’s Top Doctor What is Shared Clinical Decision Making? Former Trump surgeon general: ‘Incomprehensible’ Senate is considering Means "Good Energy" has very bad data Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    26 min
  • 297: The Epstein Satanic Panic

    297: The Epstein Satanic Panic
    Feb 26 2026
    It’s hard for some people to accept that the normalized and unbridled accumulation of wealth and power is a selection process for apex predators, who wind up having overwhelming influence over the systems that enabled them. The metaphysical reflex can provide a lot of relief: Epstein was uniquely evil, so different from the rest of us that he engaged in supernatural acts. He was a cosmic raider invading an otherwise balanced world. In the chaos of facts and allusions that swirl around the Epstein Files, the nearest available and resonant metaphysics are found in the recycling of Satanic Panic themes from the 1980s. These stories have been surging since QAnon erupted in 2017. Now they’re reaching another peak in visibility and provocation, and their ability to reduce the problem of the Epstein Class to the unsolvable problem of evil. Show Notes Michelle Remembers Series on Patreon Teal Swan Series on Patreon We have a whole chapter on Barbara Snow 50 Million People Suffer Today Under Global Slavery Many Countries Still Allow Child Marriage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 h et 24 min
  • Bonus Sample: MAHA’s Silence is Deafening

    Bonus Sample: MAHA’s Silence is Deafening
    Feb 23 2026
    MAHA isn’t a health movement. It’s a marketing engine driving activist propaganda. Derek looks at Tony Lyons, one of MAHA’s key architects, and his recent strategic memo sent to Republican leadership about how to use MAHA talking points to retain power in the midterm elections. Show Notes Tony Lyons’s strategic memo to GOP leadership Examining Who Benefits From Kennedy’s Anti-Science MAHA Push MAHA Supporters Form New Organization to Boost RFK’s Goals in D.C. MAHA’s money man has built a political machine. Will it matter for midterms? The co-founder of the Robert F. Kennedy Jr. super PAC is a Steve Bannon and MAGA media ally As MAHA turns 1, a fired-up movement is still figuring out how to fulfill its promises Skyhorse Publishing: About Us MAHA Action American Values 2024 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    6 min
  • Brief: Toxic Masculinity & The Epstein Files

    Brief: Toxic Masculinity & The Epstein Files
    Feb 21 2026
    In the wake of the DOJ’s dump of 3 million documents from the FBI’s Epstein investigation, journalists, content creators, and everyday people are forming narratives and schema for what it all means. Social media is flooded with survivor stories, overwhelming disgust, rage and grief, and reports of anxiety, sleep disturbance, and difficulty functioning in the world (mostly from women). Pizzagate and QAnon conspiracy memes are being resurrected. Satanic Ritual Abuse materials are again circulating, which imbue sex trafficking and child abuse with sensationalized supernatural overtones. The Epstein class must be held accountable. Alongside that, Julian explores how toxic masculinity teaches men to dehumanize women and girls, as evidenced by email exchanges that play along with misogynistic attitudes and objectification. Making sense of the cultural and historical context for the global human trafficking trade, which extends far beyond movie villain elites, billionaires, and royal family members, requires that men speak up against casual everyday dehumanization of women and girls, while actively fostering relational intelligence within male culture. Show Notes 50 Million People Suffer Today Under Global Slavery Many Countries Still Allow Child Marriage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    37 min
  • 296: The Chopra Files

    296: The Chopra Files
    Feb 19 2026
    Deepak Chopra is all over the Epstein files. Are we surprised? Nope. But we are interested in the various layers of his entanglement and what they say about the ethics and politics at play in the shadow of Big Wellness. Show Notes Self-Help Guru Sorry He Got Busted for Vile Epstein Emails Deepak Chopra: New Age Guru, UCSD Prof – and Epstein Confidant God Is A Construct, Cute Girls Are Real': Bestselling Spiritual Author Deepak Chopra's Emails To Epstein Revealed Deepak Chopra told Epstein to 'bring your girls.' Here's their entire email exchange Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 h
  • Bonus Sample: Mark Carney’s Secular Catholicism

    Bonus Sample: Mark Carney’s Secular Catholicism
    Feb 16 2026
    Mark Carney is a devout Catholic, and his economic vision came from a challenge posed by Pope Francis. Matthew walks through the contradictions of Carney’s economic spirituality. Show Notes Values by Mark Carney | Penguin Random House Canada Pope Francis says he wasn't offended by 'communist crucifix' gift The Catholic Case for Communism - America Magazine Pope Francis: “If I See the Gospel in a Sociological Way Only, Yes, I Am a Communist, and So Too Is Jesus” - The American TFP Exclusive: Pope Francis disusses Ukraine, U.S. bishops and more - America Magazine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    5 min
  • Brief: Mark Carney’s Nice But Canada Sells Arms to ICE

    Brief: Mark Carney’s Nice But Canada Sells Arms to ICE
    Feb 14 2026
    Matthew pokes at the contradictions behind Prime Minister Mark Carney’s polished Davos attempt to distance Canada from U.S. chaos, while Canadian companies continue profiting from the U.S. domestic terror regime. Drawing on reporting by Rachel Gilmore, Matthew looks at how Canada’s “middle power” liberalism masks deep complicity with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement through arms, surveillance tech, and security contracts. Carney’s benevolent affect continues the tradition of obscuring a longer history of exclusionary border politics. He’s there to manage outrage without challenging the capitalist structures that escalate into authoritarian violence. Show Notes The Great White North: Canada’s New Border Bill Appeases the Trump Administration | TechPolicy.Press A list of Canadian companies profiting off of ICE and Trump's violent mass deportation regime If TikTok News Is the Future, Rachel Gilmore Is Living It | The Tyee Liberals Fear Closing Arms Export Loophole Would Anger U.S. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    20 min