Topic: Modernity

Carlwood previews the second hour of the interview available to "Plus" members, noting that Professor Jiang reveals a more mystical side, including discussions of elite communication with "dark beings" and "lizard people." The host expresses surprise at Jiang's willingness to discuss these fringe topics alongside his logical geopolitical analysis. He also notes that Jiang's insights into China were more candid than expected, providing a rare look past standard propaganda.

Jim Keith’s book, "Mass Control: Engineering Human Consciousness," details how think tanks and government agencies weaponize culture and psychology. The text explores a philosophical shift at the turn of the 20th century that moved from pursuing knowledge for higher purposes to viewing man as an animal to be manipulated. Keith is credited with accurately predicting the internet's role in surveillance and censorship before his suspicious death in 1999.

Author Brad Olson returns to the program to discuss the second edition of his book, Beyond Esoteric: Escaping Prison Planet. This work concludes his esoteric trilogy, which includes Modern Esoteric and Future Esoteric. Olson's background as a world traveler across all seven continents and his research into mysterious sacred sites like Antarctica and the Great Pyramids are highlighted.

Jason Horsley critiques Diana Pasulka’s American Cosmic for conflating extraterrestrials with angels without accounting for demonic trickery. He argues that the lack of discernment between paranormal and spiritual experiences leads to "woke" post-modernism and transhumanism. The segment concludes with Horsley asserting that objective reality exists as an eternal principle of goodness, regardless of the cultural labels applied to it.

The discussion traces the origins of LSD to the Sandoz corporation and the 20th-century petrochemical industry. Albert Hoffman first synthesized the substance while researching ergot, a fungus with a long history of psychological effects. Davis explains how the medical and psychiatric communities struggled to categorize LSD, initially labeling it a "psychotomimetic" before exploring its use for treating alcoholism and other conditions.

Galt's Landing was recently featured on the television show "Modern Homestead," highlighting the property's transition to a self-sustaining garden. Food Forest Abundance is also launching a subscription service that connects users with permaculture and freedom law professionals. This platform aims to provide immediate answers for off-grid living, pest management, and legal autonomy through a digital database.

Mitch Horowitz is teaching a four-part online class on parapsychology with the Theosophical Society in February. His upcoming book, Modern Occultism, is a massive work of history currently available for preorder. Other recent works include Daydream Believer, which explores mind metaphysics and maintaining agency under strain.

The discussion touches on the lack of intelligence among modern propagandists who are trained in post-modernism and critical race theory rather than crisis management. Chris Knowles argues that these "pampered" elites are unable to explain away the rising rates of excess mortality and will eventually melt down as crises escalate. He predicts a mass exodus from government departments as the "free funny money" used for bribes disappears.

The discussion centers on the Enlightenment as a period where European thinkers rebranded the past as "superstition" to justify scientific materialism. Citing thinker Bruno Latour, White argues that the concept of "modernity" was a moral justification for imperial expansion into cultures deemed "lesser." This framework continues to influence how modern disciplines like archaeology and anthropology interpret non-European life ways.

The state of modern alchemy is described as dynamic and increasingly respected within academic circles. Cotenoir notes that universities now offer PhD programs investigating alchemical history and context without dismissal. He recommends the journal Ambix, which has published reputable research and translated original alchemical texts since the 1920s.

Vandenberg categorizes modern science into three groups: real scientists who acknowledge their ignorance, popular science that claims absolute knowledge, and "fantasy science" based on misunderstandings. He argues that even mainstream science contains fantasy elements, such as the belief that the sun is a nuclear bomb or that the Earth has an iron core.

The Democracy Collaborative and the Public Banking Institute are working to establish a national public banking framework to eliminate "too big to fail" institutions. Despite over 25 active bills in states like California and New York, significant roadblocks remain, including the need for Federal Reserve backing. Current laws, such as the Federal Reserve Act, prevent the government from creating money directly when it spends, a point of contention within Modern Monetary Theory.

Author and travel writer Brad Olsen discusses his recent expedition to Antarctica, the world's fifth-largest continent. Olsen describes the grueling three-day journey through the Drake Passage, where the Atlantic and Pacific oceans meet. He details the physical toll of the trip, including severe seasickness and the logistical challenges of visiting a continent that is 99 percent covered in ice.

The conversation turns to the practical application of sigils during sexual rituals. Miller suggests a technique he developed involving painting sigils directly onto a partner's body—such as the forehead, chest, or back—to ensure the symbol is the primary focus during the moment of orgasm. This method is presented as an evolution of traditional chaos magic techniques that often involve looking at a paper sigil on an altar.

The episode concludes with a song by Afroman (Joseph Foreman) titled "Modern Day Slavery." The lyrics critique low-wage labor at fast-food chains like McDonald's and Taco Bell, comparing the corporate grind to slavery. The segment ends with a humorous news clip reference to Afroman's "mysterious death" and his vocal confirmation that he is still alive.

Jay Sable clarifies that One Community is not a "return to the Stone Age" and intends to incorporate modern technology and internet access. He discusses the importance of clearly defined living policies regarding pets, children, and drug use to avoid the social discord common in other intentional communities. The organization plans to open-source both its non-profit and for-profit business models to encourage global replication.