Brendon Marotta Show

Send a text

Mystic Christian illustrator Owen Cyclops joins me to discuss internet ethnography and examine online culture. This is our longest episode yet, and also our deepest.

Topics Discussed In This Episode:

• [02:30] What internet ethnography means
• [07:04] How the culture of the internet became a real life
• [16:10] The internet’s social implications
• [32:04] Why institutions are losing people’s trust
• [37:15] Creating a story on social media
• [48:00] Consuming social media information
• [52:55] How the internet flattens power and social status
• [57:32] Origin of the internet memes
• [01:00:10] Lack of positive repercussions on the internet
• [01:01:49] Online anonymous honesty
• [01:05:50] How the previous internet felt more private
• [01:07:24] Taking responsibility on social media posts
• [01:10:37] The superiority of the internet forums
• [01:14:51] Catering for the internet audience
• [01:17:22] Threading on forums
• [01:25:45] The need for niche spaces on social media
• [01:28:11] Meeting with someone online
• [01:30:10] Social Media and vlogging
• [01:40:20] Using pseudo accounts vs real identity online
• [01:44:00] Separating your real life from online life
• [01:47:07] Why do people go insane online
• [01:54:18] Keeping a balance between your image and what you post online
• [01:59:13] Coming back to center and becoming yourself again
• [02:04:11] Creating character social media accounts
• [02:15:50] Why do people make up posts on the internet
• [02:17:52] Pranking vs. Scam
• [02:20:20] Distinguishing between what’s real and what’s fake online
• [02:28:10] Social media moderation
• [02:53:05] Simulacra and Simulation
• [03:03:55] Standard definition of Postmodernism
• [03:09:00] Metanarratives of the future
• [03:13:45] Accepting that we’re living in different realities
• [03:19:05] Constructing narratives through fiction
• [03:25:56] Being aware of one’s metanarrative about you
• [03:28:17] Challenging people’s metanarratives about others
• [03:33:49] Academics and science metanarratives
• [03:37:40] How humans are wired to view life
• [03:48:58] Connect with Owen Cyclops 

Resources

• Owen Cyclop's Website
• Owen Cyclops on Twitter / Instagram
• The Intactivist Guidebook by Brendon Marotta
• The Art Of Getting Over by Stephen Powers
• Ghosts of My Life: Writings on Depression, Hauntology and Lost Futures by Mark Fisher
• Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism: A Study of "Brainwashing" in China by Robert Jay Lifton
• Simulacra and Simulation by Jean Baudrillard

Subscribe and support the show directly:
https://brendonmarotta.com/show/

Support the show

Send a text

Stephanie Seneff shares how the common weedkiller glyphosate might be causing long-term serious health problems for Americans.

Topics Discussed In This Episode

• [00:58] What is glyphosate and why is it a big deal?
• [04:10] Why the amount of glyphosate use in plants has been increased
• [07:15] How bad is glyphosate to our health?
• [12:50] Glyphosate and autism
• [17:00] Is there a way to measure glyphosate effects on the body?
• [21:29] Is glyphosate legal in other countries?
• [25:15] How consumers can push for change
• [26:22] Why are the food industries still using chemicals in food production
• [34:40] Why Sulphur is an important nutrient to the body
• [36:13] Symptoms of autistic mice
• [37:19] Are companies going to continue using glyphosate?
• [41:22] How can Americans opt-out of environmental glyphosate
• [44:45] Mislabeling in the chemical industry
• [46:19] What is the food industry trying to avoid by using glyphosate?
• [49:10] The US hitting rock bottom
• [51:59] Stephanie’s final words

Resources

• Stephanie Seneff's Website
• Toxic Legacy: How the Weedkiller Glyphosate is Destroying Our Health and the Environment by Stephanie Seneff

Subscribe and support the show directly:
https://brendonmarotta.com/show/

Support the show

Send a text

The moderator of r/Intactivism  on Reddit joins us for an in-depth discussion of social media activism. We talk about the incentives different social media platforms create and how their design changes the psychology of their users. We also talk about how to use internet memes to create laughter, change minds and build online communication.

Topics Discussed In This Episode

• [01:18] Breaking down the Reddit social media platform
• [02:17] About the r/Intactivism subreddit
• [06:29] How r/Intactivism community is different from other intactivism groups on other social media platforms
• [09:53] The incentives on Reddit and how it has enabled thoughtful discussions
• [13:46] How to educate the population on Intactivism
• [15:54] The history of human rights
• [19:20] The problem with Twitter as a medium for long-form discussions
• [21:21] Deciding on where to spend your time on different Reddit communities
• [23:01] The generation of a meme and its advantages
• [28:58] Responses from the r/IntactivismMemes subreddit
• [29:30] Are there meme formats for Intactivism?
• [32:01] The role of memes in the discussion
• [39:29] Entertaining and putting on a show in the subreddit
• [42:16] Understanding the audience and how to reach them
• [42:50] What styles of humor does well on Reddit
• [47:55] Incentives for people doing activism and how to get people to change social media platforms
• [54:06] Memes and trolling on social media
• [01:05:10] Final thoughts

Resources

• r/Intactivism
• /r/IntactivistMemes/
• Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
• Reasons To Circumcise by Hugh Dickman

Subscribe and support the show directly:
https://brendonmarotta.com/show/

Support the show

Send a text

Jay Mjinga is a Kenyan journalist working to end African circumcision. In this episode, we talk about how Western circumcision campaigns intersect with tribal conflict in Kenya. Jay shares how myths and misinformation about circumcision are worsening HIV,  used to support systemic racism, and contributing to forced circumcision hate crimes. If you want to understand the issue of circumcision in Africa, this is a must-listen episode.

Topics Discussed In This Episode:

• [1:32] - How circumcision is viewed in Kenya
• [2:38] - How circumcision campaigns are being carried out in Africa
• [3:41] - Jay’s personal circumcision story
• [6:20] - How circumcision campaigns lead to unsafe sex
• [7:19] - How Jay began to question circumcision
• [8:24] - Circumcision in Kenyan elections
• [9:49] - Forced circumcisions in Kenyan streets
• [11:18] - Pro-circumcision propaganda in Kenya
• [12:35] - Government backlash to Jay’s activism
• [14:19] - How FGM is treated differently in Kenya
• [17:17] - Women’s attitudes towards circumcision
• [18:15] - Sex before and after circumcision
• [19:54] - How Africans are enticed to get circumcised
• [23:26] - How tribal circumcision is performed
• [26:29] - Getting arrested for “anti-government propaganda” against circumcision
• [32:41] - Are government lies spreading HIV and AIDs?
• [33:30] - How COVID impacted Kenya
• [34:50] - The problem with Africans copying the West
• [37:45] - The relationship between American programs and local Kenyans
• [40:29] - Conflict between China and America for control of Africa
• [41:05] - How Americans can help end circumcision in Africa
• [46:39] - Plans for an anti-circumcision resource center
• [51:32] - The challenge of fundraising in Africa and Nigerian scam emails
• [56:26] - How Brendon perceives the circumcision issue in America
• [1:00:05] - How transgender people might change the issue of genital cutting
• [1:02:14] - Shame and talking about circumcision
• [1:04:46] - How circumcision propaganda get distorted in Africa
• [1:08:09] - How tribal conflict intersects with circumcision and Kenyan politics
• [1:11:04] - Brendon has a light bulb moment about Kenya politics
•  [1:15:04] - The seriousness of Kenya elections
• [1:17:08] - Forced circumcisions as hate crimes
• [1:19:55] - Generational change and inter-tribal marriage
• [1:23:22] - How circumcision propaganda attacks poorer tribes and interracial marriage
• [1:29:30] - How America looks at Africa, and the 42 tribes of Kenya
• [1:33:26] - How money and power works in Kenyan politics
• [1:41:24] - “Most ideologies end up in the forest”
• [1:45:12] - How Americans can build trust in Africa

Resources:

• Stop the Cut on Facebook

Subscribe and support the show directly:
https://brendonmarotta.com/show/

Support the show

Send a text

Megan Russell, COO of Marotta Wealth Management (and my sister) discusses how your parenting can influence your child’s future relationship to money. 

Megan shares experiences from her own parenting as we discuss our own beliefs surrounding money, how we can set ourselves up for financial success, and empowering our children to have healthy financial futures.

Topics Discussed In This Episode:

• [1:19] How early you start setting up your children for financial success 
• [2:52] Habits you can create with money that your children can emulate 
• [6:45] How to give children the opportunity to make their own choices about money 
• [9:38] How to help your children navigate through the challenging aspects of money 
• [14:27] Handling your child’s questions about making money 
• [21:50] How to guide your kids to find a career they’re interested in
• [23:29] How to support your kids in careers you may not understand 
• [26:28] How to foster entrepreneurial skills in your child 
• [30:00] Criticisms of the Millennial generation 
• [31:20] How to handle changes in beliefs around money 
• [34:21] What you can do to give your kids a good start with money
• [37:26] Easy things you can do to understand personal finance
• [39:17] How crypto-currencies can be a part of your savings plan 
• [41:20] Where to put your money to save for your kids 
• [44:08] How to support your children financially without spoiling them
• [49:20] Identifying and reframing your beliefs about money 
• [56:09] How to not use money as a punishment 

Resources:

• Megan's Bio
• Marotta Wealth Management 
• Megan's articles on personal finance and wealth management
• Marotta Wealth management videos, tutorials, and talks on Youtube
• Seven Lessons School Teacher by John Taylor Gatto
• Morningstar Study

Subscribe and support the show directly:
https://brendonmarotta.com/show/

Support the show

Send a text

Kerry McDonald talks about the massive growth of homeschooling and unschooling after the Covid-19 pandemic, and how you can start unschooling with your children.

Kerry is a Senior Education Fellow at the Foundation for Economic Education, author of Unschooled: Raising Curious, Well-Educated Children Outside the Conventional Classroom, and an adjunct scholar at The Cato Institute.

Topics Discussed In This Episode:

• [2:00] What is unschooling
• [4:30] What does unschooling and schooling look like in comparison to government schooling and how it’s trying to be different
• [6:10] How Covid-19 has changed homeschooling and unschooling 
• [11:03] How children learn and how parents can support and facilitate that learning 
• [13:27] What misconceptions people who were brought up in the system have on homeschooling 
• [18:03] How homeschooling has expanded in the past year
• [19:21] Kerry’s experience and journey to homeschooling 
• [25:57] The first steps to exploring your child’s education in homeschooling
• [29:45] The process of finding the best option for your child 
• [35:14] How to incorporate non-academic activities into your schooling 
• [39:07] How to spark your child’s interests 
• [40:20] Stereotypes of homeschooling 
• [42:44] The difference in outcome between homeschooling and public education
• [45:56] Navigating college and how to prepare your child for an unknown future

Resources: 

• Unschooled: Raising Curious, Well-Educated Children Outside the Conventional Classroom by Kerry McDonald
• Kerry McDonald Bio

Subscribe and support the show directly:
https://brendonmarotta.com/show/

Support the show

Send a text

Ari Hershkowitz talks about his journey and experiences in the Hasidic Jewish community explored in the Netflix documentary One of Us (2017). We discuss Ari’s healing journey, return to the Hasidic community, and how the Jewish community is changing.

Topics Discussed In This Episode:

• [1:00] What a Hasidic Jewish Community looks like 
• [2:21] Ari’s current stance in his community
• [4:47] Journey to change within the Hasidic community and the specific changes being made
• [6:26] The cause of these changes 
• [7:31] Fears and control of information flow 
• [8:27] Why New York is the home for a Hasidic Jewish community 
• [10:00] Ari’s Journey to questioning and leaving his community 
• [14:51] Ari’s involvement with the documentary crew and experience with film One of Us
• [16:34] Ari’s experiences post leaving the community
• [18:51] School and education within the Hasidic Jewish community  
• [19:6] Best and worst of leaving 
• [21:09] Ari’s discoveries of other religions and experiences post leaving the community
• [23:40] Ari’s return back to living with the community 
• [25:27] Ari’s hopeful changes for the community 
• [28:02] Ari’s journey to self-recovery and healing 
• [29:44] Sexual abuse and how it’s handled in the community 
• [32:44] Footsteps and mental health organizations in the documentary “One of Us” and how to get involved 
• [34:09] How the Hasidic Jewish community see other Jewish communities and perceive criticism from the outside
• [39:00] Criticism of circumcision and anti-semitism 
• [41:44] Generational trauma and finding ways to have an understanding between outsiders and people within the community 
• [45:11] Jewish Identity defined
• [47:51] Where Ari is today and his next steps moving forward  
• [48:55] Community and reaction to the Netflix Documentary 

Resources:

• One of Us (2017) on Netflix
• Ari Hershkowitz Website
• Ari on Instagram / Facebook

Subscribe and support the show directly:
https://brendonmarotta.com/show/

Support the show

Send a text

Garrett Dailey and I candidly explore numerous topics, including the cycles of generational wealth, civilizations and the potential origins for autism and neurodivergencies.

Topics Discussed In This Episode:

• [2:03] How people’s trauma creates their behavior, specifically from early childhood 
• [9:22] Strauss-Howe generational theory
• [14:26] Story of the Buddha 
• [19:28] Scott Adam’s skill stack 
• [22:20] Generalist vs. Specialists and applying new perspectives to old problems 
• [30:25] Myers Briggs personality types 
• [43:56] Neupro-atypical diagnoses 
• [49:40] Solo hunting and patterns/characteristics of Autism Theory
• [53:05] The essence of quality 

Resources:

• Garrett  on Twitter
• Garrett's Substack
• Aion (Garrett's Company)

Subscribe and support the show directly:
https://brendonmarotta.com/show/

Support the show

Send a text

Yolande Norris-Clark, freebirth educator and coach talks about family birth outside the system. Yolande shares her 20 years of wisdom and experience in natural home births. We discuss the importance of freebirth, the common misconceptions and how we can best provide a safe, natural environment for our newborns.

Topics Discussed In This Episode:

• [2:43] Yolande’s Journey to freebirthing 
• [3:19] How to prepare for having a natural home birth
• [5:52] What does a healthy natural birth look like?
• [14:53] How to handle cultural stress as a free birther 
• [20:57] Natural home births and how to best prepare 
• [33:43] How we can let go and enjoy the full experience of natural child birth 
• [43:26] Pre-birth steps within industrial hospital systems and the misconceptions of home birthing 
• [48:47] Parenting and birthing in fear and the double standard between home birth vs. the industrial system 
• [55:37] Working through psychological and social pressures against natural home births 
• [1:02:30] Cutting the cord of the placenta 
• [1:06:20] Anticipating home births and dealing with being in the moment
• [1:08:56] Handling placenta post-birth and using placenta as supplement capsules
• [1:21:52] Misconceptions of new born baby mucus 

Resources:

• Yolande's Website
• Yolande on Instagram
• Yolande's Linktree

Sponsor:

• Foregen

Subscribe and support the show directly:
https://brendonmarotta.com/show/

Support the show

Send a text

Adam Fletcher talks about adultism, and the pervasive bias the society has towards adults over the needs of children.

Adam Fletcher is the executive director of Youth and Educators Succeeding and the Free Child Institute. He is also the author of Facing Adultism. In this episode, we talk about how adulthood is socially constructed and give practical advice on what you can do to create greater engagement with your children.

This is a big topic from which you will learn a completely different way of thinking about the social issue of how we treat children.

Topics Discussed In This Episode:

• [00:58] Introducing guest and reviewing Facing Adultism book
• [02:52] Why adults should be the center of everything in the society
• [07:46] Things that children do are determined by their age
• [11:15] Danger of having responsibility without power in parenting
• [14:34] Adults sharing power and empowering kids
• [21:01] Linking your childhood experiences to address adultism
• [25:46] Contemporary vs. traditional adultism roles and responsibilities
• [30:33] Justifying adultism patterns based on the age of the child
• [34:43] Negative adultism that is embraced in the new generation
• [40:27] When does adultism occur?
• [45:02] How does adultism factor into infants and babies?
• [48:56] Impact of adultism on brain development
• [53:38] How to deconstruct social expectations and biases
• [58:00] Become the change you want to see in the society
• [1:00:02] Final words and contact information

Resources

• Youth and Educators Succeeding
• Free Child Institute
• Facing Adultism by Adam Fletcher
• Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Subscribe and support the show directly:
https://brendonmarotta.com/show/

Support the show