The Free Thought Project Podcast

Guest: Jacob Johnson - Weaponized Fear: MKUltra, Media Psyops & the New Mind Control

This week, Jason and Matt go down the rabbit hole with researcher and commentator Jacob Johnson, also known as @RiseToLiberty. Jacob is a fearless voice who specializes in dissecting the darkest tools in the state's arsenal: mind control, propaganda, and the sophisticated psychological operations used to keep the public divided and compliant. He brings a unique and unflinching perspective to subjects many are too afraid to touch.

The conversation is a deep look at the war for your mind. We start by exploring the legacy of the CIA's MKUltra program, detailing its horrific experiments and making the case that these programs never stopped—they just got more sophisticated. Jacob explains how modern mind control is on full display in our political landscape, programming people to be blind to the crimes of their own "team" while being conditioned to never step in and solve problems themselves. 

We then tackle one of the most censored topics in the mainstream media: the staggering link between mass shooters and psychiatric drugs like SSRIs, exposing the mountain of evidence that gets ignored in favor of the state's gun control narrative. Finally, after diagnosing the problem of weaponized fear, we explore the ultimate white pill: the power of building real-world, decentralized communities as the most effective antidote to top-down psychological warfare, effectively summed up in the phrase, "Stop Asking for Permission." (Length: 1:11:15) 

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Rise To Liberty Twitter: https://x.com/RiseToLiberty
Rise To Liberty Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/risetolibertypod
Rise To Liberty Telegram: https://t.me/risetolibertychat

Guest: Dr. Mary Ruwart - Healing Society: A Voluntaryists Guide To Saving The World

This week, Jason and Matt are honored to welcome a titan of the liberty movement, Dr. Mary Ruwart. A research scientist, acclaimed author of Healing Our World, and a tireless advocate for freedom for decades, Dr. Ruwart brings a lifetime of intellectual rigor and compassionate activism to the podcast. She is a factory for the ideas that can set us free.

The conversation is a masterclass in voluntaryist solutions. We kick things off by dissecting the government-created nightmare of modern healthcare, using the recent Pfizer deal as a case study for the corrupt revolving door between the state and Big Pharma. From there, Dr. Ruwart makes the powerful case for a society entirely free from government coercion, explaining how peace and prosperity thrive where voluntary cooperation replaces the state's monopoly on violence. 

We then dive into the crucial challenge of messaging: how do we make the principles of liberty and non-aggression appealing to a generation raised on state dependency? The discussion turns to the root of state indoctrination—government schooling—and how the philosophy of peaceful parenting is a radical act of defiance. Dr. Ruwart lays out a vision for a future of decentralized, private learning networks that could make the state's factory-schooling model obsolete. 

The entire episode is a white pill, focusing on constructive, positive solutions, and we close by exploring the practical, agorist strategies that empower individuals to stop asking for permission and start building a freer world today. (Length: 1:04:00)

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Find Dr. Ruwart's Work:

Website: ruwart.com

X (Twitter): https://x.com/MaryRuwart

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maryjruwart/

Liberty International: liberty-intl.org

Guest: David SJVT - Auditing The Empire: ICE Raids, Missing Kids & The Surveillance State

This week, Jason and Matt welcome back a guest who has been on the front lines of the battle for police accountability for years—David, better known as San Joaquin Valley Transparency. Four years after his last appearance, we sit down to discuss the evolving landscape of citizen journalism and the ever-expanding police state under the current administration.

The conversation kicks off with a dive deep into the political hypocrisy of the last few years, exploring how the right's brief awakening to the police state during COVID has evaporated, and how both political parties simply trade outrage-jerseys depending on who controls the White House. David gives us a crucial on-the-ground perspective from his community on the real-world impact of the recent ICE raids, cutting through the national media narrative. The discussion expands from the visible police on the street to the invisible digital panopticon of companies like Palantir, and we explore the chilling theory of a Hegelian dialectic—asking if social chaos is being deliberately engineered to make a frightened public beg for more control.

David's evolution from a street-level auditor to an activist seeking systemic change at city council meetings is a powerful lesson in effective resistance. Despite the heavy subject matter, we close on a much-needed white pill for the future of liberty. (Length: 57:36) 

Donate/Subscribe to TFTP: https://tftpsubdomain.wpengine.com/tftp-membership/

His website: https://watch.recordthepolice.tv/
His YT Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_8tJst6X5fx6dUXuuXdl9w
His IG: https://www.instagram.com/official_san_joaquin_?igsh=MTc4MmM1YmI2Ng== 
His FB: https://www.facebook.com/sjvtkern01/ 
His X: https://x.com/sjvtkern

Guest: Kevin Whitson - Grief, Psychedelics, & the Fight to End Addiction: A Father's Journey

This week, Jason and Matt sit down with a member of the TFTP family, former journalist Kevin Whitson. After contributing hundreds of articles over six years, Kevin has channeled his journalistic and educational skills into a powerful new book, The Paranoid Mystic's Guide to Ending Addiction Now Using Psychedelics. Written after the tragic loss of his son to an overdose in 2020, Kevin's book is a tactical guide for individuals to reclaim their sovereignty from addiction using ancient plant medicines.

In this episode, we kick things off by diving into the foundational steps in Kevin's guide—the radical act of reclaiming one's biology by fixing gut health, eliminating processed foods, and mastering sleep before ever touching a psychedelic. From there, we explore the different tools in the psychedelic arsenal, from psilocybin and cannabis as an "exit drug" to the heavy hitters like Ayahuasca and Ibogaine. This leads to a crucial discussion, with Matt sharing his own transformative experiences, about where to draw the line between a professionally guided ceremony and the sovereign individual's right to heal themselves at home. The conversation also touches on the deeply personal question of using these tools to navigate profound grief, before zooming out to pontificate on the real reason these substances are illegal—as a direct threat to a control system that thrives on a fearful and divided populace.

This is a heavy and deeply personal conversation, but Kevin's resilience and dedication to empowering others is a true inspiration. Despite the dark subject matter, the episode itself is a powerful white pill for the future of cognitive liberty. (Length: 1:00:34)

Donate/Subscribe to TFTP: https://tftpsubdomain.wpengine.com/tftp-membership/

Get Kevin's Book here: https://a.co/d/2VjoDpP 
Email Kevin: Kevbels@yahoo.com

Guest Ben Swann - Assassination, Algorithms & Hegelian Dialectic: Decoding Charlie Kirk's Death

In this episode of The Free Thought Project Podcast, Jason, Don, and Matt sit down with Ben Swann — Emmy Award–winning journalist, founder of Truth in Media, and one of the most consistent independent voices in modern journalism. From his early Reality Check segments to his pioneering work today, Ben has built a reputation for exposing the narratives the establishment doesn’t want questioned.

We dive straight into the assassination of Charlie Kirk, dissecting not just what happened, but the motives behind it. We discuss how the killing—carried out in public, on camera, and in front of hundreds of people—was designed to be the perfect catalyst for chaos, a statement or warning from likely professionals who knew exactly what effect it would have.

From there, we shift to the Zarutska stabbing in Charlotte, showing how that tragedy too is being weaponized by the same interests to stoke hatred, deepen division, and create the kind of chaos that consolidates control.

We also talk about Ben’s ongoing work with Truth in Media and the powerful projects they’re building for the future. Despite the dark subject matter, we closed on a positive note—Ben delivered a monologue that everyone needs to hear, a reminder of why we must resist division and cling to hope. (Length: 1:06:58)

Donate/Subscribe to TFTP: https://tftpsubdomain.wpengine.com/tftp-membership/

Follow Ben on X: https://x.com/BenSwann_
Follow TIM on X: https://x.com/Truth_InMedia

Guest: Chris Hunt - Cowboy Wisdom for Modern Living: The Code of the West Explained

In this episode, we sit down with Chris Hunt, the mind behind The Code of the West. We talk about the decline in masculinity and the shifting roles of men and women, through the libertarian lens of leaving people alone.

We dig into the tension between those who claim to embrace Western values but reveal themselves as openly racist — and how that undermines the very principles they claim to defend.

From there, we move into social media and its corrosive effect on both younger and older generations, before plunging into the world of AI — its potential for liberation and for tyranny. Chris explains how he created his own large language model that abides by the Code of the West, a tool that reflects timeless values in a new age.

Chris closes with a powerful, encouraging monologue that made a white pill unnecessary. This was a conversation outside our normal format — in the best possible way. (Length: 1:12:41)

Donate/Subscribe to TFTP: https://tftpsubdomain.wpengine.com/tftp-membership/

Follow Chris here:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecodeofthewest

Code of the West Manual on Amazon: https://a.co/d/8YYeIhy

Guest: 7Sees - Connecting the Dots of Control: Palantir, Flock Cameras & Data Centers

In this episode of the Free Thought Project podcast, Jason and Matt sit down with independent journalist 7sees, whose unique investigative style has been gaining serious attention. Known for his striking use of the Obsidian platform to create intricate “idea webs,” 7sees has developed a method of reporting that helps people connect the dots on everything from geopolitics to the technocratic rise of AI surveillance.

We kick off by exploring Palantir and the tentacles it has spread throughout the world. We then dive into his process: why he chose Obsidian, how it shapes his journalism, and why visualization is such a powerful tool for truth-seeking. From there, we dive deep into money and control systems and the end game of the technocrats. 

While some see cryptocurrency as the solution, 7sees argues both fiat and mainstream crypto are compromised — a point that leads us to discuss privacy tools like Zano and the broader fight for financial freedom.

The conversation winds through dark but necessary territory: the surveillance state, the creeping technocracy, and how censorship and financial control are converging. Even when our perspectives diverge — like on barter as a solution — the discussion sparks new ways of thinking about how to resist authoritarian creep.

We wrap with a challenge: if the technocratic police state is inevitable, what can we do to stave it off? And if we can’t stop it, how do we survive and escape?

This is a thought-provoking and raw episode with one of the most unique voices in independent media. (Length: 1:02:50) 

Donate or subscribe to TFTP to keep this podcast going: https://tftpsubdomain.wpengine.com/tftp-membership/

Follow 7 on Twitter: https://x.com/7SEES_
7Sees Linktree: https://linktr.ee/the7sees 
7 Sees Podcast 'Just Talking': https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/just-talking-w-7sees--6675145

Guest: Sterlin Lujan - Stablecoins, Network States & the Battle for Decentralized Money

In this episode, Jason and Matt welcome their friend Sterling Lujan — a libertarian communicator, author, cryptocurrency advocate, and public speaker known for blending philosophy, psychology, and blockchain technology into a compelling vision for human freedom. Sterling has been a prominent voice in the liberty and crypto movements for over a decade, speaking at conferences worldwide and writing extensively on voluntaryism, privacy, and the future of decentralized systems. 

We dive deep into the current assault on financial freedom, starting with the recent Tether freeze of $24 million at the request of authorities and the long history of stablecoin issuers like Tether and Circle instantly seizing funds with no due process. Sterling helps us unpack how legislation like the Genius Act is creating a backdoor for CBDC-style control through government-compliant stablecoins — a rare point of bipartisan agreement in Washington that should raise red flags for anyone who values autonomy.

From there, we discuss the case of Roman Storm, the Tornado Cash developer recently convicted of conspiring to operate an unlicensed money-transmitting business, and what this means for developers of privacy tools going forward. We explore the role of privacy coins like Zano in resisting state and corporate control, and how the Confidential Layer can offer a permissionless, private escape route from surveillance coins.

Sterling also shares his thoughts on the philosophical drift of the crypto space, the importance of keeping liberty at the core of blockchain development, and the solutions individuals can embrace to push back against the rising tide of financial surveillance. (Length: 1:04:06) 

Follow Him on Twitter: https://x.com/SterlinLujan
Follow Him on FB: https://www.facebook.com/sterlinlujan
Checkout His Website: https://sterlinlujan.com/ 
Checkout His Substack: https://sterlinlujan.substack.com/
Checkout Logos: https://logos.co/ 
Checkout Polis Labs: https://www.polis-labs.org/ 
Buy His Book: https://sterlinlujan.com/cartflows_step/get-dignity-and-decency-2/

Guests: LFM & AKA: Kratom in the Crosshairs: A Battle for Freedom & Health

On this episode, Jason and Matt are joined by their close friend Luis Fernando Mises, along with Jennifer Gillis and Misty Brown, two tireless advocates with the American Kratom Association. Together, we dive deep into the criminalization of kratom — from Louisiana's looming ban to the federal government’s quiet war on natural medicine.

Luis Fernando Mises is a consultant who teaches leadership across the U.S., a yoga and meditation teacher, a student of Austrian economics, a statesman with the Libertarian Party, a curandero, an entrepreneur, and a family man. He also runs a successful kratom business and brings rare clarity on both the plant and the marketplace.

Misty Brown is a fierce kratom advocate and consumer who uses her voice to protect whole-leaf kratom and keep it legal and safe. Her work is personal — helping others fight addiction, chronic pain, anxiety, and depression.

Jennifer Gillis has lived with chronic pain for 19 years. After finding real relief through kratom six years ago, she became a dedicated advocate, educator, and truth-teller who supports efforts to keep kratom accessible for all.

We begin with the Louisiana ban, where Misty reveals troubling claims of bribery between a sheriff and a rehab clinic pushing the ban behind closed doors. From there, we move to the federal level — breaking down the media’s obsession with 7-OH (a lab-concentrated alkaloid being falsely labeled as “kratom”) and how it’s fueling disinformation, addiction, and panic.

Luis gives clear and grounded advice on avoiding dangerous gas station extracts and choosing safe, whole-leaf kratom instead. We then explore the FDA’s alliance with Big Pharma, RFK Jr.’s recent crackdown on 7-OH, and how this could pave the way for a nationwide ban.

We dive into Scott Gottlieb’s ties to GlaxoSmithKline, the push for synthetic patents, and the blatant monopolization of nature. Then we bring it home with a hard look at the horrors of prohibition through the heartbreaking stories of Shaina Brown and Marshall Price, two innocent people whose lives were upended — and in one case, ended — over this plant.

We close with each guest offering real solutions and a final word of encouragement to the millions of Americans who use kratom safely, responsibly, and with purpose.

This is a must-listen for anyone who cares about bodily autonomy, plant medicine, and the rising tide of pharmaceutical control. (Length: 1:08:44)

Donate/Subscribe to TFTP: https://tftpsubdomain.wpengine.com/tftp-membership/ 
Jason's 'Know Your Right's 1-Hour Online Seminar: https://www.jasonbassler.com/book-online

Sign the petition: https://www.protectkratom.org/ 
American Kratom Association: https://www.americankratom.org/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emancipatedhuman
Website: https://emancipatedhuman.com/
Kratom: https://bestdamnkratom.com/
Contact Luis at his Website Here: https://luisfernandomises.com/

Guest: Barrett Brown - Techno-Fascism 101: Thiel, Musk & The New Architecture of Control

In this powerful episode, Jason and Matt sit down with **Barrett Brown**—journalist, author, and one of the most persecuted truth-tellers of the digital age. A former spokesman for Anonymous and founder of Project PM, Barrett gained international attention for exposing the collusion between government surveillance agencies and private intelligence firms. For his efforts, he was targeted and imprisoned by the very system he sought to hold accountable.

Together, we dive headfirst into the modern surveillance state—focusing on Palantir’s explosive expansion under both Trump and Biden. We unpack the disturbing roles played by Peter Thiel, Elon Musk, and the MAGA crowd's blind embrace of tools they once feared. We dissect Musk’s contradictory posture—mocking the very machinery he’s actively building—and how this illusion of rebellion keeps both sides locked in digital chains.

In the final segment, Barrett offers a sobering analysis of how the Anonymous movement has been co-opted by establishment forces and weaponized against real dissent. But we end on a high note—one that only someone who’s endured and survived the belly of the beast can deliver—with Barrett sharing a grounded, powerful insight into how we can still claw our way toward freedom. (Length: 1:07:03)

Donate/Subscribe to TFTP: https://tftpsubdomain.wpengine.com/tftp-membership/

Follow Barrett Brown:
🕊 Twitter/X – https://x.com/ProjPM
📘 Book – *My Glorious Defeats* – https://firestorm.coop/products/17748-my-glorious-defeats.html