Coup Save America

“There will be a lot of dead people, but politicians don’t tend to care about dead people.”

Sean’s Monologue: Israeli-Palestinian Relations Recap

On today’s episode of Coup Save America, Robert Cook joins us to talk about the conflict in the Middle East. Robert is a US Veteran, Western Civilization Expert, public intellectual historian and the author of "The Mahdi," a timely thriller novel which explores geopolitical tensions through a fictional lens.

The episode opens with Robert telling us about his series of national security thrillers starring a modern, liberal Muslim character, Alex Cuchulain or “Cooch.” In previous novels, Cooch has proven his heroism in Colombia, Yemen, and Iran … but in this latest installment – The Mahdi – he returns to his Bedouin homeland and finds himself mixed up in a clash between Jewish and Islamic ideologies. Can technology and enlightened thinking prevail over entrenched dogma?

Robert talks about how his military experience has shaped his perceptions of Middle Eastern conflicts and how writing fiction allows an author certain liberties with the storytelling. As for the harsh realities of the situation between Israel and Palestine, although he “doesn’t have a dog in the fight” Robert would like the Middle East to be a good place for children to grow up. Is a US war with Iran inevitable? Listen to find out what Robert means when he says that problems in the Middle East will not be solved by politicians or by warfare – they will be solved by religion.

Sean and Robert go on to discuss “unintended consequences”, quantum computers, and how AI chatbots could be used to educate children. On the topic of innovative styles of teaching, Robert tells us about the Cook Honors College he launched at the University of Alabama in Pennsylvania.

On the topic of America’s impending regime change, Robert feels that Trump will “really break a lot of glass” but will ultimately make our country better in the end. Listen to learn why Robert feels we are better off funding the government with tariffs rather than with tax revenues. He also explains the diversity of opinions across the MAGA movement and tells us how to listen through the noise for the real message.

The conversation turns back to the implications of AI in modern warfare, along with the genocide & the future of the Palestinian State. We conclude the show with Robert’s advice for people wanting to remain informed about current events – Keep an open mind and listen to reliable voices on both sides. Don’t just be a viewer, be a thinker. 

Follow Robert Cook and buy his books at:

If kindness doesn’t benefit us personally, should there be an obligation to pursue kindness without reward?

Sean’s Monologue: The Myth of Rugged Individualism

Our guest this episode is Damien Dubose, author of the book America's Ethical Archetype: Establishing the Psychology of Moral Authority and Correcting our Country’s Politics. We go into the show acknowledging that Damien’s subject matter goes against Coup Save America’s core beliefs, but we hope that he and Sean will find some common ground. We start by listening to Damien tell us what inspired him to write his book and to Sean marveling that it took only two years to write a book he describes as “in depth and intellectual.” 

Damien defines moral authority and explains why it’s so critical in modern politics. He talks about using the philosophies of Ayn Rand and Carl Jung as tools to interpret different people’s approaches to reason. Sean wonders if individualism and collectivism are incompatible, so Damien explains the individualistic approach described in his book. 

Sean and Damien discuss “group think” and “cancel culture”, then they find out that they agree about some of the flaws in our education system. Damien worries that America is not developing individuals. He feels that people will solve the world’s problems by pursuing their own values. He and Sean talk about exploitation of others and factors that contribute to a person having the ability to make decisions that are in their best interest. 

While admitting that it is not his area of expertise, Damien tells us that he is opposed to social safety net programs and he feels they should be phased out. Listen to learn why he doesn’t apply the same principles to collective social systems such as military and emergency services. The discussion turns to problems that are collective in nature and how why Damien is not in favor of using collective means to solve them. It all comes down to a question of conscious consent. Damien’s main fight is for an individualist approach in politics, so he talks about our need for better leaders. 

Sean and Damien discuss how too much technology and media might lead to a collective way of thinking, then Damien explains his philosophy that people create their own circumstance by going about their lives more intentionally. He talks about why it is important to defend individualism through philosophy rather than through tradition or religion and about how individualism is imbedded into America’s founding. Damien gives us a teaser for his book - creating a better nation would start with the legislative branch of government. 

Damien makes his case for why there should not be a negative connotation to selfishness, then Sean points out a portion of America's Ethical Archetype that he found particularly compelling. What role does emotional intelligence play in making moral decisions? Why is some outside force controlling Damien’s 401K? What does it mean that “nothingness is the villain of the story”?

The episode ends as Damien talks about the intended audience of his book, and Sean challenges listeners to read the book even if they are NOT the intended audience.

“There’s the law…then compassion. And the law and compassion don’t always see eye to eye.”

Sean’s Monologue: Barriers to Birthing

Today we welcome Mark Bello - attorney, civil justice advocate, and an award-winning legal-themed novelist. 

Mark opens the with the story of why he became an attorney, what turned him to social justice, and what inspired him to write his first novel based on his own experience as one of the first people to sue the Catholic Church over sexual abuse by clergy. He tells us why he chose to write fiction rather than a factual account when penning his debut novel, Betrayal of Faith, thirty years after his groundbreaking litigation. Mark goes on to tell us how the 2016 election turned a single book into a series that now contains nine titles, then laughs about how Trump unwittingly turned fiction into fact. This leads to a discussion with Sean about how America shoots itself in the foot by voting against its own self-interest.

Mark is of Jewish heritage, and he shares his fears about mass deportation by saying “Yesterday’s Jew is today’s Haitian.” He bemoans a political swing to the right that he really didn’t expect, then he and Sean talk about what went wrong in the 2024 election. Mark had promised himself that he wouldn’t be bitter on our show…but, you know. 

The conversation turns to how America’s justice system has proven that some people are simply above the law. Did Trump reach the legal standard for a felony murder charge following the January 6th insurrection? A viewer of the show writes in to assure us that “Trump is working for Jesus.” 

As an attorney, Mark is all too aware that justice is not always equal and blue-collar criminals are not able to hire the best lawyers. He and Sean chat about other American inequalities, money in politics, the perception that the Far Left is controlling the country, campaigning on immigration, and what went wrong with trickle-down economics.

The conversation takes a less frustrated turn as Mark tells us about his “Justice Counts” podcast, which allows him to vent with like-minded guests about the shit going on in the world and the legal issues of the day. Sean brings up one of the “Justice Counts” episodes, then they discuss the US probation system and how it needs reform. Mckenzie reluctantly comes on air to talk about participatory photography. 

Mark hints about the adventures of his lawyer hero, Zachary Blake, along with his pornography-addicted P.I. as they fight for social justice in his latest legal thriller, The Anti-Semite Next Door.  He tells us about his children’s books and lists off the topic of each book in his Zachary Blake series. Mark explains that after writing books for others, The Anti-Semite Next Door is the book  he finally wrote for himself, then he takes a few minutes to share his views as a Jewish American on the Gaza-Israel conflict.   

You are not responsible for the circumstances of your birth, but you are responsible for what you do with your life.

Sean’s Monologue: Post Election Reflections

Coup Save America welcomes the remarkable John David Graham, founder of the Good Samaritan Home, a non-profit agency helping people restart their lives after prison. John is also the author of Running as Fast as I Can, a loosely autobiographical, fictionalized story of one man’s journey to overcome an abusive background to find forgiveness and love.

John begins the episode by sharing his incredible life story and the events that led him to open up his home to ex-offenders. Listen to hear how John’s life was turned around when he attended a protest just to meet girls.

Next, John talks about the project he launched in 2001 that has since expanded from his own residence to 19 facilities spanning over 3 counties in Ohio and is helping thousands of men and women reintegrate back into society. John explains post-release control of offenders and how the Good Samaritan Home plays a role with what he calls “habilitation” skills. He describes how he has dealt with the challenge of the “Not in my backyard” mentality, and how it took seven years and a snow blower to get the local community to start waving at them with a whole hand instead of just one finger.

Sean and John discuss the recent election and the concept of hating the system while still loving your neighbor. John, who received a doctorate of Applied Theology late in life, tells us “It has been my work in the street helping broken people restart their lives that has allowed me to maintain my faith.” He talks about Christianity, and how “morality cannot be legislated.” Later in the episode, our “minister without a portfolio” speaks more about his faith and the importance of a religious community vs. his disillusionment with the church.

John shares success stories of the people who have benefited from the services of Good Samaritan Home, and he tells us about his partnerships in the re-entry coalition. He chuckles at how the Good Samaritan Home project is appealing to Democrats because it is morally responsible, but it is appealing to Republicans because it is fiscally responsible.

John tells us about the long process of writing his novel. We watch the trailer for his book, and John describes how he took marketing and promotion into his own hands after old-style publishing failed him. He talks about the theme of his novel – self-forgiveness - and how his main character must be reminded again and again that life is written in pencil and gives us many opportunities to erase and start again.

John goes on to talk about the biggest challenges for people coming out of prison, the power of the Civil Rights movement, and why Texas is a good state to start over. He talks about acceptable vs. unacceptable crimes and tells us that his “you’re here, you need help, how can I help?” philosophy guides him to overlook the “unforgiveable sin” and reach out to everyone equally. John explains how family structures influence a person’s future and how our family structures have changed over time. What are the differences between younger and older people who come out of the prison system? What does “normal” really mean? And could the 60’s generation be to blame for our current high incarceration rate?

John concludes by sharing his continuity plan for Good Samaritan Home. Will his project be able to weather the oncoming political storm? John is very much aware that “the state giveth & the state taketh away.”

To learn more about Good Samaritan Home and the book Running as Fast as I Can, visit John’s website & read his thoughts on Substack:

Is it possible to know the nature of humans without the benefit of religion or philosophy?

Sean’s Monologue: The 2024 Election

Today Coup Save America welcomes Anne Riley, author of the upcoming book The Human Idea: Nature's Newest Ecosystem and the brilliant mind behind the “ideasphere.” Ideas are a human concept, and Anne is confident that we can design collaborative systems – such as governments, institutions, and tax and elections systems – that will serve our country better if we use similar structures to the ones nature uses to keep her own long-lasting and proven collaborative systems functioning.

Anne talks about the fifty years she’s spent pondering the question of where human beings fit into the scheme of nature and how Michael Rothschild’s book Bionomics, Economics as Ecosystem helped her to think in a new direction and solidify her own ideas. Anne describes government as a coordinating mechanism in both humans and nature, how that works, and why it’s important.

Anne explains the deceptively simple nature of life & how it complies with the ecosystem around it, then goes on to tell us that “choice” is the human superpower – both for better and for worse. Anne and Sean discuss how choice is different from free will and they explore the reasons why people hang on to bad ideas. Anne believes that the whole job of young adulthood is to unlearn everything we’ve learned and figure out which human ideas actually work for us.

Anne helps us to understand that our government does not function well because it defies the rules of nature. She tells us how democracy came about, why it was such a great idea, and what other ideas have gotten in the way of it. Anne’s one basic tenant for having healthy societies is “Hey, do what you want, but don’t harm others in the process.” What is harm and how can harm be regulated? And how does AI fits into the ideasphere?

Anne shares her vision of the “idealsphere” – the perfect combination of nature’s systems with an ability to make choices. If society could work in a way similar to how the human body functions, how would this address issues like education and income inequality? Listen to Anne’s well thought out proposal for a 4th branch of government & how it would work to improve democracy.

Unlike many Coup Save America guests, Anne is a proponent of capitalism. Listen to hear her reasons for supporting capitalism and why she feels this system can maximize choice while minimizing harm. Anne explains how institutions evolved within the ideasphere, then the conversation turns to some of Sean’s favorite subjects - hunter/gatherer societies and life in Nordic countries. The episode concludes with a discussion of the “wild west” we’ve been haplessly thrown into – the Internet and social media. Anne cringes at how humans were not prepared for an informational tool so vast, and she talks about how we as a society need help learning how to manage and navigate the Internet, and especially tools to help us discern lies from the truth online.

 The Human Idea: Nature's Newest Ecosystem will be available soon wherever books are hold + you can learn more about the ideasphere by following Anne on social media:

Are the American people desperate enough for change to embrace a few all-new solutions? 

Sean’s Monologue: The Two-Party Cartel

Evan Jaqua, founder of The Solutions Party, joins us today to talk about real, functional remedies to the shortcomings of government and to the social issues plaguing both sides of our political aisle. Evan launches the episode by describing what he believes is the crux of our country’s woes – our politicians’ addiction to power – which then leads to prioritizing corporate interests, the spread of misinformation, and other weaknesses in democracy. The Solutions Party has a plan that could end lobbying, lying, and expensive “razzle-dazzle” campaigning. Listen to Evan’s well-thought-out ideas for ending re-election and bringing accountability back into government. Could such an ambitious plan ever come to fruition while the powers-that-be cling so ferociously to the status quo?

The main things holding us back from solving our country’s problems are a lack of political will and a lack of fresh ideas. Sean and Evan go on to discuss political tribalization by design, creating all-new, revolving political parties, and reforming the electoral college. Evan doesn’t just complain about the decline of journalistic integrity and the media’s use of emotional manipulation, he lays out a workable plan to fix the problems.

We hear about Evan’s life experiences that inspired him to envision The Solutions Party. He goes on to share his ideas about creating a path to pay off college loans, improving efficiency in government jobs, empowering informed voters, supporting immigration, and ending the war on drugs. As a conservative Republican, Evan might have different reasons for wanting the same things that liberal progressives want, but his solutions to our society’s problems will make us ALL winners in the end.

And, as expected, Sean and Evan talk about our impeding presidential election…which not-so-expectedly leads to a discussion on nuclear proliferation and a transcontinental bikeway.     

Evan Jaqua believes that “the way forward for our country is through honest debate and civility.” If you are ready to embrace some fresh ideas for a better future, check out:

Why rein in radicalism when you can use it to make a profit?

Sean’s Monologue: Republican Extremism: A Manufactured Reality

For today's show, we have invited back David Shaw, author of the book Deplorable Politics: Propaganda for the Brainwashed, to talk about the direction of the current Republican Party and, more specifically, the MIS-direction of presidential candidate Donald Trump.

David begins by using examples from the rapidly approaching presidential election to showcase how his book is even more relevant today than it was when he published it last year. He explains the characteristics of malignant narcissism and poses the question: Does Trump lie because he believes what he says is true… or because he knows that lying will work? Why do Trump’s followers refuse to recognize his lies?

Sean and David chat more about “Teflon Don” and why he’s been so hard to prosecute, then call out the Democratic Party for their lack of a progressive agenda. They dive deep into the history of the Dems, and David explains how the Christian Right is a small group that the Republican Party blows up to a big group.

Our host and guest speculate about the biggest threats of a second Trump presidency and what it might do to democracy. They agree about the dangers of the Supreme Court immunity ruling and how propaganda and the corporate media are the biggest influences on public opinions. And is Trump really threating to take over the media???

David lists the various rationales of the Trump voters he’s spoken with, highlights some common propaganda terms, and points out that we essentially have a three party system – Republicans, Democrats, and MAGA. He and Sean discuss how difficult it is for Dem politicians to navigate the crisis in the Middle East, plus ponder the feasibility of holding control of the House and Senate. They talk about the role that fear plays in Trump’s messaging, and David scoffs at how easy it would be to solve our country’s border problems, except the Republicans want to keep campaigning on those issues. 

David tells us about his “Defend Democracy” Facebook sharing campaign, then answers questions like – Why hasn’t Kamala Harris come out with a more populist campaign? – “What other radical right politicians are currently on the international stage? – Why won’t psychological experts call out craziness in politicians? – and the biggest question of all – Is J.D. Vance more dangerous than Donald Trump?

Learn more about David Shaw and his book at:

Politicians think: “If we keep you focused on fighting for that emotionally triggering issue over there, you won’t notice this bill we’re passing over here.”

Sean’s Monologue: The Outrage Economy

Today’s guest, David Beckemeyer, is the host of "Outrage Overload," a podcast dedicated to exploring the outrage industry and finding solutions to toxic polarization. David begins the show by telling us a story of watching relationships erode around him, which led him to launch his podcast.

Sean and David discuss the many pieces that work together to cause US citizens such high levels of outrage, plus talk about how politicians on both sides use polarization to simplify their jobs and shrug off accountability. David warns about the inherent danger of people thinking they are on the “right” side, which can justify actions that they would otherwise never perform or accept. He sheds light on the reasons why people feel they can’t have meaningful conversations with people they disagree with, then he tells Sean which intellectual groups feel safe from the possibility of a civil war and which groups fear that our outrage could lead to violence.

There are so many news sources out there these days – it’s a wide-open playing field and very difficult to navigate. David talks about strategies that can help us consume news without giving in to emotions, find news sources that are less biased, and become more comfortable with delving into nuance. He warns us that reading only the headline is never enough because the story beneath it might be completely different. We are ignoring HALF of the first amendment!

David feels confident that while there is no magic bullet to fix our nation’s outrage economy, there are enough smart people working on the problem to give us hope for our future. He talks about how we must overcome the fundamental psychology of being human and develop critical thinking skills that are not innate to our survival. Remember that Trump is proof that a bottom-up strategy can influence the elites and be satisfied by doing small things that work will toward changing the system. Developing real human connections will help our political identities become less important. Why are humans so good at grouping up?

Sean and David discuss the ramifications of another Trump presidency, ways to protect our own mental health, and the idea of adding “media literacy” to curriculums. David tells us the steps for avoiding outrage overload and turning our passion into action (sending a Tweet is NOT action!). Sean asks David to think of examples of time when outrage has led to positive outcomes, then the two ponder the question of whether voters are becoming cynical and tuning out due to our climate of outrage. David stresses the importance of primary voters and their influence on candidates, then shares his tips for having healthy political conversations with family and friends.

It’s hard to criticize any state these days when they ALL have skeletons in their closets.

Sean’s Monologue: The US-China Relationship

Today Sean is joined by Coup Save America’s good friend Toufic Sarieddine, a PhD graduate from Nagoya University whose research focuses on the hegemonic impact of China’s Belt and Road Initiative on US hegemony around the developing world. Toufic is the author of the book A Tale of Rice and Copper: A World-Systems Analysis of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

The episode begins with an unexpected topic – the Lebanese political party Hezbollah and their exploding pagers – an event that occurred only hours before our weekly broadcast went live. This attack hits close to home for Lebanese national Toufic – VERY close to home, as he is visiting family in Beirut as he joins us on the show.

What does this attack mean for Lebanon’s relationship with Israel? What prevents US politicians from taking an anti-Israel stance? Toufic tells us that Arabs like himself are not taught or trained to be anti-Jew, and they realize that most of the animosity between their nations comes from government actions and not the beliefs of the actual people going about their lives in the Middle East. But he does see hypocrisy in what some nationals are allowed to say about their fellow humans, while other nationals are not granted the same leniency. Did you know that it’s illegal in Israel to test your DNA for ethnicity?

Toufic explains how the US prevents Middle Eastern countries from being truly democratic, and he talks about the extent of Israel’s control over the Gaza Strip and its inhabitants – even banning pasta from the region for a long period of time. Why does the United States fund both Israel and Lebanon? Toufic feels that if Israel was not written a blank check to do whatever they wish, the leaders would cultivate better relations with their neighbors…”Because If you have endless resources, you’re going to have endless ambition.”

As the conversation continues, we learn some interesting facts about religions in the country of Lebanon, and why the militant movement Hezbollah has gained popularity amongst the people since October 7th, 2023. Toufic speculates on what action Hezbollah might take in response to the pager attack.

We move on to discuss the Pakistani-Chinese relationship as Sean asks to hear the inspiration behind Toufic’s new book. Why is China now so interested in Pakistan, and what is the benefit to cost ratio of this alliance? Toufic explains the difference between humanitarian aid and developmental aid.

Returning to hostilities in the Middle East, Toufic calls out celebrities who stay silent rather than using their platforms to draw attention to the genocide in Palestine. He gives shout outs to Macklemore, The Weeknd, and Shea Couleé for their bravery.

Sean asks Toufic who will be better for the Middle East, Trump or Harris? Then they talk about the possibility that we are currently engaged in a very subtle WW III. But overall, Toufic tells us that despite the intense seriousness of our political situations, sometimes you must laugh at things – like blown up pagers - just to get through them. “You have to laugh about this because, you know, there’s no more tears to shed. And if you laugh at something, you conquer it.”

You can find info on Toufic Sarieddine’s book, read his articles, and learn more about World Systems Analysis framework by visiting his social media sites:

“We’re stuck with Trump because the United States created Trump.” 

Sean’s Monologue: From Neoliberalism to Trump

Today, Coup Save America speaks with social philosopher Dr. Douglas Giles, the author of Why Trump? Why Some People Support Him—How the Rest of Us Can Respond. Dr. Giles is an assistant professor at Elmhurst University, where he researches the root causes of bigotry and injustice and their role in political action.

Douglas launches straight into explaining how Donald Trump is more of a symptom than a cause – a conman and a “useful figurehead” for the Republican Party to rally the disaffected white working class. Douglas points out how Trump gained popularity because “This guy hates the same things I hate”, and he discusses “ressentiment” – a French term used by philosopher Max Scheler to describe a particular form of hatred that arises from beliefs that one is lacking recognition and thus is socially impotent.

Douglas and Sean chat about the immigration controversy and how much resistance to difference plays into the myth of American exceptionalism. Do we really have a border crisis? How about JD Vance & those pet-eating Haitian immigrants? And what about that term “woke”?

In getting to the bottom of the problem, Dr. Giles gives us an overview of Calvinism, discusses Lewis Charles Levin and nativism, then explains why the MAGA feels new to us – and yet it isn’t.

Douglas goes on to compare the novel The Turner Diaries to Project 2025, and then describes how Bill Clinton changed the operation of the Democratic Party and how the Democratic Party changed Obama. Is Donald Trump a fascist? Dr. Giles does not think so. He believes that the new name for fascism should be “concentration of power.” And what’s the difference between “deliberate democracy” and “open democracy”?

Sean and Douglas talk about the usual subjects – how the term socialism has become corrupted, how Americans give in to media control, and how the “fake Left” is only interested in opposition, not equality for all humans. They conclude the conversation with thoughts on the Trump/Harris debate and speculations about the upcoming presidential election.

You can find Douglas Giles’ books on Amazon & his thoughts at:

If we stop using the “S” word, will more people embrace socialist ideals? 

Sean’s Monologue: The Neoliberal-Fascism Connection

In this episode, Sean interviews Dan McCrory, an author of extraordinary diversity and depth. Dan has published books in many genres, but today we focus on his powerful work of non-fiction: Capitalism Killed the Middle Class, which tells the story of how corporate greed has dismantled the middle class in America.

 Drawing on his long history of labor activism, Dan talks about the pros and cons of breaking up monopolies and 1980’s strategies for successful management of unions. He and Sean touch on Reagan’s theory of trickle-down economics, the evils of the American Legislative Exchange Council, the Powell Memorandum, and how to navigate the threat of AI to our work force.

Dan explains how the Green Party clashes with labor issues, discusses “Right to Work” trends, and talks about fusion voting and 5-time presidential candidate Eugene Debs. He tells us how large companies avoid paying taxes, gives us examples of fascism around the world, and addresses the question, why wasn’t Trump more prepared for Biden to leave the race?

Sean and Dan go on to discuss the caste system in America, how our Social Security system is designed to benefit the rich, the militarization of US police forces, and predatory lending schemes. Dan leaves us with a prescription to “Buy local, buy American, buy union, and exercise your right to vote.”

To learn more about Dan and his books, visit his social media sites:

“Can actions with ulterior motives benefit everybody in the end?”

Sean’s Monologue: Bully Pulpit International

Our guest today is internationally-recognized author, presenter, and volunteerism expert Karen Knight. With nearly three decades of experience mentoring and advising social impact organizations, Karen is a leading voice in challenging conventional ideas about volunteerism and driving creative solutions to long-standing issues.

Karen begins the show by explaining the importance of volunteerism and how our society could not function without non-profit organizations. She and Sean go on to discuss the hardships for NGOs when it comes to recruiting and retaining volunteers – especially in our current times of emotional and financial stress. Karen defines the true value of volunteering, both in hypothetical dollar amounts and in the benefits to society, such as combating the fierce sense of polarization that plagues the United States these days. 

Karen reveals to us the most common reasons why people choose to volunteer their time and energy to non-profit organization…and her answer might surprise you. Then she lends us her expertise by sharing tips on how to keep volunteers engaged and feeling valued. She divulges her favorite four types of “perks” to reward volunteers and lays out her rules for giving “tangible gratitude.”

Sean asks Karen about the lessons that the covid-19 pandemic taught us about volunteerism, then the two brainstorm ideas on how governments could support the volunteer efforts that their countries rely upon – and they come up with an excellent idea! I hope someone with this power to act upon their idea might be listening…?

What happens when addiction becomes the rule rather than the exception for most Americans?

Sean’s Monologue: Is a Utopian Society Possible?

Today on Coup Save America we welcome guest Jeff Einstein, a digital media pioneer who has taken a critical stance on how the digital age has negatively impacted our quality of life.

Jeff begins by explaining how a state-sponsored default addiction to digital media began to develop in the early 21st century. He professes that the rise of runaway digital scale has given all the institutions in our life more power with less accountability. We can’t walk away or opt out from this institutional tyranny, and the resulting addiction has led to a decline in our spiritual, social, emotional, and physical wellbeing.

Jeff describes his theory of “Huxwell”, the current totalitarian dystopia that combines elements of Alex Huxley’s A Brave New World with George Orwell’s 1984. He tells us about the 3 mass formation psychosis that have gripped American society in the first two decades of the 21st century.

Jeff goes on to confess his professional history, including his creation of many “firsts” in the field of digital media – contributions that he is no longer proud of and that he now feels he must distance himself from by blowing the whistle on the harm his former industry has caused to our country. Jeff is the founder of “The Quality of Life Resistance Movement”, which creates a road map for individuals and families to escape our state of default media addiction. He gives us his three primary calls to action for inserting “meaningful ritual” back into our lives, and he explains why he feels this is the only statistically viable way to fight addiction.

Sean and Jeff spend the second hour of the interview chatting about various topics such as the history of the surveillance state, the democratization of media, Canadian philosopher Marshall McLuhan, “Trump derangement syndrome”, giving up our civil liberties out of fear, the industrialization of liberation movements, Palestine and cultures of victimhood, and, of course, the irony of promoting an anti-digital media campaign using digital media. It is an insightful conversation even if the two participants don’t always agree.

How can someone being banned from marching in a parade lead to everyone being legally censored online?

Sean’s Monologue: Censorship Industrial Complex

Our guest today is here to tell us about a secret form of online censorship that is happening every day to people like you and me – and we don’t even know it. Robert Hawkins is a social entrepreneur and founder of Reveddit, a website that shows people where they have been censored on Reddit’s media platform. Robert became passionate about restoring free-speech values online after discovering his own comments from past years had been secretly removed, and he’s here now to blow the whistle on a practice called “shadow banning." 

Robert explains how shadowing banning is a person-to-person form of censorship, not a silencing imposed by a company or a government, then he walks us step-by-step through what a person sees – or rather, DOESN’T see – when their comment has been shadow-banned. Sean and Robert talk about what Reddit promotes itself to be vs. what Reddit actually is.

They go on to discuss the intent behind shadow banning, who does it, and why. Are there good uses for shadow banning? What type of content is most frequently shadow banned? Robert tells us the justifications used to perpetuate this practice that Sean describes as “counterintuitive to democracy.” Are these justifications valid? Robert argues that they are not and tells us why.

Robert describes how bots are created, how they operate, and how they are (in some ways) smarter than humans. He tells us that he does support “transparent content moderation”, and he explains the difference between shadow banning and censorship practices that actually help users learn the rules of the platform where they are posting.

What happens when a user discovers they are being shadow banned? This practice has gone largely unchallenged, so is there any recourse to fight against it? Robert explains why there is a lack of awareness surrounding shadow banning. He tells us about his experiences at LibertyCon, and his attempts to bring shadow banning into the light. What about enacting laws against online censorship? Is it a good idea to involve our government? Robert talks about legislation that is currently in the works … in places like Texas and Florida.

Robert shares practical tips for what everyday people can do to save America from the complexities of censorship. Should people who don’t even use social media be concerned? Robert feels that even those who understand the scale of online censorship don’t acknowledge the harm it can do. He tells a story of a hidden government practice was eventually revealed to the world, and he hopes the same will be true of shadow banning.

Sean and Robert conclude the episode chatting about why political figures are unlikely to have censored comments on Reddit, which social media platforms don’t permit shadow bans, and wondering if decentralization is a potential solution. Will Robert expand his Reddit tool to encompass other social media platforms? And what was it like living in Taiwan for the past ten years? Listen to find out!

When a fundamentalist Christian is preaching against abortion, don’t point out how many babies God killed in the Bible!

Sean’s Monologue: Book Banning in America

Our guest today is Mark Alsip, a computer scientist, freelance science writer, and the founder of Bad Science Debunked, a skeptical science blog. Mark is here with us today to talk about a personal history that is quite unexpected for a man of his profession - being raised in and indoctrinated into a fundamentalist Young Earth Creationist sect. He went through decades of trauma due to the conflicts between pseudo-scientific church teachings and the world of reality that was revealed to him through his love of science. After Mark left religion completely, he thought he’d be able to leave his past behind him and move on, but then fundamentalists insisted on forcing religious dogma into our government, our laws, our schools, and other secular places. Mark felt it was his duty to fight back, so he wrote the book Journey to Reason: Walking Away From Young Earth Creationism and Religious Fundamentalism.

In this episode, Mark and Sean discuss critical thinking vs. religious thinking as they swap amusing stories about growing up under the tutelage of Bible-thumping adults. They talk about how prayer is like “flipping a coin and calling it after it lands” and how religions quell logical questioning when they label disagreement with doctrine as a “sin.” Mark explains the beliefs of his childhood religion and how it sucked him in with scare tactics, such as a propaganda movie that made a whole audience of little kids cry.

Sean and Mark agree that religion is not abusive in general, and that there are many wonderful and compassionate believers in the world. They share Mark’s assertion that religion is fine, but “we just don’t need it” and people should not push it on one another. They talk about how the religious and non-religious could live together in peace and harmony if the fundamentalists weren’t such a fundamental threat to our democracy.

The conversation turns to impending legislation that supports narrow Christian viewpoints, and how such influence has come about. Mark and Sean wonder where religion is headed in America and speculate on what our future will look like if Trump wins the presidency. 

Mark talks about his professional history and how it taught him critical thinking skills, he explains the relationship between capitalism and religion, and bemoans the hypocrisy of Christians who claim to believe in love for mankind while exhibiting little actual compassion for their fellow human beings. His conclusion is that we should focus on the good parts of religious teachings and reject the parts that hurt and condemn others.

You can find Mark Alsip’s book Journey to Reason: Walking Away From Young Earth Creationism and Religious Fundamentalism on Amazon, and follow him on social media:

Is economic disenfranchisement the main force fueling toxic Internet subcultures and online movements?

Sean’s Monologue: The Phenomenon of QAnon 

We are joined today by Mike Trigg, a former Silicon Valley start-up guru now turned accomplished writer. Mike’s first corporate thriller Bit Flip was lauded with 5-star reviews, and now he’s on our show to talk about his newest novel, Burner, available on April 16th, 2024. Billed as a "fascinating thriller in which an online movement swallows up the person who started it" by Foreword Clarion Reviews, the novel dives headfirst into political disinformation, toxic internet subcultures, and our need for belonging and purpose in an age of distorted online personas.

Sean and Mike discuss the creation of Burner, and how it is written from a centrist point of view (even though the author is left-leaning). The stock manipulation and kidnapping elements of the book were inspired by news headlines like GameStop and January 6th. Sean praises the likability of the lead character, Shane, who Mike has dubbed “the Forest Gump of the Internet generation.”

The rest of the conversation centers around how online movements take flight – the use of Internet algorithms to normalize beliefs, the self-reinforcement, and actions driven by the underlying idea of “I am a victim, now who do I blame?” Mike and Sean talk about their election concerns and how to deprogram someone once they have been sucked into a toxic movement. The end conclusion is that – both on the Internet and in politics – people behave much better when others know who they and there is some level of accountability.

Other topics include: Mike’s time on Capitol Hill, elected officials as Internet trolls, how the Democratic Party disenfranchised blue collar America, ID verifications online, the impossibility of the TV show The Last of Us, the looming threat of AI, and the fun of recording audio books. 

Find Mike on his website and all social media platforms:

Did the act of dreaming bring about religion?

Sean’s Monologue – “The Poor People’s Campaign”

Tune in today to learn that everything you’ve heard about dreaming is true…sort of. Benjamin Davidson – The Dream Wizard – joins us to unravel the mystery of dreams and other human “thought experiences.” With two decades of work in the mental health field behind him, Benjamin has turned his attention to everything dreaming – from acting as a curator, collector, and publisher of historical dream research to recording his podcast of dream analysis – Dreamscapes.

Benjamin talks about what got him interested in dreams, why we dream, strangers in dreams, and what is the definition of a “dream.” He tells us about different states of consciousness, why he doesn’t believe in dream dictionaries, and why some people – like The Dream Wizard himself – seldom remember their own dreams.

Sean and Benjamin discuss how a person can stop reoccurring nightmares, and they look back on Benjamin’s career as a mental health professional in the emotionally challenging field of emergency room intake. Then the two discuss the future of brain science, bringing up both exciting and dangerous ideas about how humans might one day be able to change their own brains. Benjamin talks about the proven scientific way of looking at dreams vs. what he affectionately calls the “Spooky-woo side”, ultimately defining himself as a “credulous skeptic” when it comes to prophetic dreams and other unknowns. Sean brings up the question of whether a person’s dreams can diagnose a physical or mental disorder.

Finally, Coup Save America producer, Mckenzie, joins the conversation as Benjamin helps her analyze a dream about reptiles and a serial killer.

How do our government’s efforts to ban TikTok circle back around to the crisis in Gaza?

Sean’s Monologue: The USA Titanic

Today we bring back our friend Christina Khalil for an update on her New Jersey race for Senate. Running on genuine concern, compassion, and policy ideas that might actually heal our country has forced Christina to abandon the Democratic Party in favor of the Green Party. She gives us a rundown of the current situation in New Jersey – “possibly the hub of corruption in the United States” – as she describes how incumbent Democratic leaders are failing the people they claim to represent, especially in the areas of affordable housing and ending genocide in Palestine. Christina describes the actions of the Democratic Party in general as “Donald Trump wearing blue”, as she poses the question, “What does ‘progressive’ even mean anymore?”

Sean and Christina briefly break down the historical events that led up to Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023. The United States created this monster, and why are they now trying to demonize the Jewish people who have nothing to do with the decisions made by governments who have betrayed their voters? What’s the difference between a Zionist and an ordinary Jewish citizen? Why are the very families who have been harmed by violence coming out to denounce their leaders for spreading misinformation?

Christina spells out the steps she would take as a member of Congress to protect and heal Gaza while at the same time creating jobs for the Palestinian people. The discussion the genocide evolves into an examination of the Democratic so-called progressives failures in areas such as humanitarian efforts, currency, and mainstream media control. Did you know that “The Green New Deal” was designed after ideas posed by The Green Party? We hear how President Biden’s version of this deal is manipulated in favor of destroying the planet.

The sad truth is that we have the solutions, we have the resources, we just don’t have the right people in leadership who care enough to move our nation forward. We need new leadership options, so Sean and Christina talk about the crucial 5% threshold and the “uncommitted vote” movement – both pros and cons.

Christina issues a plea for people who care about honesty and integrity to run against the incumbents in their state offices – The Green Party will give resources and support to candidates with progressive ideals. She talks about the benefits of “rank choice voting”, New Jersey’s “Green Thirteen”, and how the policy changes she wants for our country will focus on people above profits and politics.