Charles Fernandez

This week I kicked off a new series on the mafia, moving on from our recent discussions on the Freemasons and the Knights Templar to trace how organised crime in Sicily evolved into the American mob. I started with the island’s history, from feudal landholding and poverty through to the lemon trade and the rise of protection rackets, before following the early Sicilian underworld into New York. From Giuseppe Morello and the Black Hand to the first major street mobs in Harlem and Little Italy, I set out the foundations of how extortion, counterfeiting and violence became embedded in the story of Cosa Nostra.

I then walked through the power struggles that shaped the modern mafia: Ignazio Lupo, Joe Masseria, Maranzano, Lucky Luciano, Meyer Lansky, Bugsy Siegel, Frank Costello and the creation of the Commission. Suk and I also picked out the parallels with secret societies, especially initiation rituals, codes of silence and the use of secrecy as power. This was very much the scene-setting episode, and over the coming weeks I’ll be diving deeper into figures such as Al Capone, the Chicago Outfit, Benito Mussolini’s clash with the mafia, British organised crime, and the wider political and aristocratic connections that surround the story.

• Food For Thought Radio: https://www.fftradio.com/
• Common Man Airwaves: https://www.fftradio.com/shows/common-man-airwaves
• Charles Fernandez: https://www.fftradio.com/djs/charles-fernandez/
• The People's Lawyer Reality Check: https://www.fftradio.com/shows/the-people-s-lawyer-reality-check
• David Adelman: https://www.fftradio.com/djs/david-adelman/
• Mark The Bowler Hat Farmer: https://www.fftradio.com/shows/mark-the-bowler-hat-farmer
• Mark The Bowler Hat Farmer (host page): https://www.fftradio.com/djs/mark-the-bowler-hat-farmer/
• Bases Actual: https://www.fftradio.com/shows/bases-actual
• Miles Johnston: https://www.fftradio.com/djs/miles-johnston/
• The Godfather by Mario Puzo: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/290370/the-godfather-by-mario-puzo/9781101043110/
• Mario Puzo: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2181365/mario-puzo/
• Al Capone: https://www.fbi.gov/history/cases-and-criminals/al-capone
• Charles “Lucky” Luciano: https://www.history.com/articles/lucky-luciano
• Mafia in the United States: https://www.history.com/articles/mafia-in-the-united-states
• The Five Families: https://www.history.com/articles/who-were-the-mafia-five-families
• Murder, Inc.: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/march-4/the-head-of-murder-inc-is-executed
• Dutch Schultz: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/august-6/dutch-schultz-is-born
• Thomas E. Dewey: https://www.nga.org/governor/thomas-edmund-dewey/
• Billy Bathgate: https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/billy-bathgate/umc.cmc.4z17sdxpum1j5sk9z7oq3uwem
• Peaky Blinders: https://www.netflix.com/title/80002479

Tonight I opened by reflecting on the momentum behind the Common Hearts initiative and the wider aim of rebuilding real neighbourhood community. From there, we moved into listener questions around attachment of earnings, council tax disputes, deed polls, the Royal Courts of Justice, HM Land Registry, and the practical differences discussed on the show between operating in the public and private spheres. I also walked through why enrolled deed polls matter in the framework I use, how they connect to property records, and why understanding paperwork, process and status is such a recurring theme for so many people trying to navigate the system.

In the second half, Matt joined me for a much broader conversation about frequency, meditation and consciousness. We explored delta, theta, alpha, beta and gamma brainwave states, why theta is often seen as the sweet spot for meditation and creativity, and how tools like the Muse headband can help train awareness. From there we moved into aura, chakras and the relationship between emotional states, colour, frequency and perception, with Matt sharing examples from mediumship, paranormal investigation and day-to-day energetic balance.

• Food For Thought Radio: https://www.fftradio.com/
• Willoughby Genius: https://www.willoughbygenius.com/
• Willoughby Discord: https://willoughbydiscord.uk/
• Royal Courts of Justice: https://www.find-court-tribunal.service.gov.uk/courts/royal-courts-of-justice?lng=en
• HM Courts & Tribunals Service: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-courts-and-tribunals-service/about
• HM Land Registry: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/land-registry
• Companies House: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/companies-house
• Find and update company information service: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/
• NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/
• Department for Work and Pensions: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions
• Anglian Water: https://www.anglianwater.co.uk/corporate/about-us
• Muse EEG meditation headband: https://choosemuse.com/
• Dr Joe Dispenza: https://drjoedispenza.com/
• Discord: https://discord.com/
• Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/
• WeRe Bank / Peter of England: https://werebank.co.uk/werner1

In this episode, we carried on our deep dive into Freemasonry and the Knights Templar, focusing on the distinction between law and legislation, and how that difference shapes ideas of freedom, control, rights and governance. Suk unpacked the contrast between natural or inalienable rights and rights granted conditionally by the state, drawing on ancient texts, constitutional principles, Masonic ideas, and James Wasserman’s book *The Templars and the Assassins*. We also explored how words such as “democracy” and “covenant” can be reframed or misused, and why discernment matters when reading history, law, religion and modern political narratives.

We also looked at the more nuanced side of Freemasonry, arguing that it cannot be reduced to a single good-or-bad conclusion. The conversation touched on symbolism, sacred geometry, the York Rite and Scottish Rite in America, Albert Pike’s influence, the Temple Church in London, and the role of intuition alongside critical thinking. Along the way, we reflected on examples from *Star Wars*, Miss Marple, Columbo, Howard Jones, and public figures such as Donald Trump, Gordon Ramsay and Sir Alex Ferguson to illustrate ideas around balance, philanthropy, teaching and personal awakening.

• Food For Thought Radio: https://www.fftradio.com/
• The Templars and the Assassins by James Wasserman: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Templars-and-the-Assassins/James-Wasserman/9780892818594
• Temple Church, London: https://www.templechurch.com/
• United Grand Lodge of England: https://www.ugle.org.uk/
• The Royal Arch (UGLE): https://www.ugle.org.uk/about-us/royal-arch
• Ordo Templi Orientis U.S. Grand Lodge: https://oto-usa.org/usgl/websites/
• York Rite Official Information: https://www.yorkrite.org/index.html
• Scottish Rite: https://scottishrite.org/
• Shaykh Imran N. Hosein: https://imranhosein.org/
• Howard Jones: https://www.howardjones.com/
• Star Wars: https://www.starwars.com/
• Miss Marple: https://www.agathachristie.com/characters/miss-marple
• Absolutely Fit Studio, Swindon: https://www.absolutelyfit.co.uk/contact/
• Donald J. Trump biography: https://www.trump.com/leadership/donald-j-trump-biography
• Gordon Ramsay: https://www.gordonramsay.com/
• Manchester United history (Sir Alex Ferguson reference): https://ir.manutd.com/company-information/history.aspx
• Aston Martin: https://www.astonmartin.com/
• Automobili Lamborghini: https://www.lamborghini.com/
• Ferrari: https://www.ferrari.com/
• Rotary International: https://www.rotary.org/en/get-involved/our-clubs/rotary-clubs
• Foresters Financial: https://www.foresters.com/en

In this live episode of *Willoughby Surgery*, I walked through the framework I teach in the foundation course: securing your name, using a company structure, trademarks, deed poll processes, property protections, and the way I believe public and private identities can be managed side by side. I also took questions from listeners on trusts, car ownership and keeper arrangements, and data protection disputes, before pointing people towards our Discord community and the GDPR training for more detailed support.

In the second half, Matt joined me for a very different conversation on mediumship, spiritual development, intuition, trance work, paranormal investigation, and the idea that consciousness reaches far beyond the physical body. We explored how these experiences can develop over time, how meditation and intuition seem to strengthen awareness, and why frequency, consciousness and spiritual sovereignty may all be linked. It set us up nicely for a deeper conversation on frequency and vibration in the next show.

• Food For Thought Radio: https://www.fftradio.com/
• Willoughby Discord: https://willoughbydiscord.uk/
• Discord: https://discord.com/
• Willoughby GDPR Institute: https://www.willoughby-gdpr.institute/
• Willoughby Data Busters: https://willoughby-data-buddies.lovable.app/
• Companies House: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/companies-house
• Find and update company information (Companies House service): https://company-information.service.gov.uk/
• HM Revenue & Customs: https://www.gov.uk/find-hmrc-contacts
• Royal Courts of Justice: https://www.find-court-tribunal.service.gov.uk/courts/royal-courts-of-justice
• Change your name by deed poll (GOV.UK): https://www.gov.uk/change-name-deed-poll
• Enrol a deed poll with the courts: https://www.gov.uk/change-name-deed-poll/enrol-a-deed-poll-with-the-courts
• Information Commissioner's Office: https://ico.org.uk/
• Data protection complaints guidance (GOV.UK): https://www.gov.uk/data-protection/make-a-complaint
• NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/
• HM Land Registry: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/land-registry
• Search the property register (HM Land Registry): https://www.gov.uk/get-information-about-property-and-land/search-the-register
• Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/driver-and-vehicle-licensing-agency
• Get a vehicle log book (V5C): https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-log-book
• Compare the Market: https://www.comparethemarket.com/
• Anglian Water: https://www.anglianwater.co.uk/
• Tesco: https://www.tesco.com/
• Sainsbury's: https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/
• Shell UK: https://www.shell.co.uk/
• Esso UK: https://www.esso.co.uk/
• Texaco UK: https://texaco.co.uk/
• Tim Abbott DSNU: https://timabbott.net/

This week on The Mel and Mick Show, Mick and I caught up on the week, gave a shout-out to listeners and clients, and got into a big conversation about health, detoxing and preparedness. We talked about why so many people seem to feel run down at the same time, the importance of supporting the body day to day, and some of the remedies and products people in our community have been trying, including shilajit, black seed oil and oregano oil. I also mentioned my recent podcast interview with Dr Andrew Kaufman and the way he explains illness, toxicity and the body’s own clean-up processes.

We also spent time talking about power cuts and why being practically prepared matters, from storing water straight away to thinking ahead about food, torches and filters. Later in the show we were joined by singer-songwriter and activist Jolo, who spoke about her music, her long journey through the truth movement, and her views on common law, personal courage and the need for people to reclaim their confidence in the face of broken systems. Along the way we also highlighted a few voices and resources that listeners may want to explore further, including Lawyer Lisa, Cal Washington’s work, and Bill Cooper’s book.

• Food For Thought Radio / The Mel and Mick Show: https://www.fftradio.com/
• Joanne Louise Griffiths (Jolo): https://joannelouisegriffiths.com/
• Dr Andrew Kaufman, MD: https://www.andrewkaufmanmd.com/new-homepage
• Water-to-Go: https://watertogo.eu/
• LawyerLisa’s Substack: https://lawyerlisa.substack.com/
• World on Mute by Lisa Miron: https://www.amazon.com/WORLD-MUTE-Committees-Destroying-Eliminating/dp/B0F9TQYKHC
• David Icke: https://davidicke.com/
• InPower / Cal Washington: https://www.inpowermovement.org/
• Behold, a Pale Horse by William Cooper: https://www.lighttechnology.com/store/books/behold-pale-horse

In this third part of our series on Freemasonry and the Knights Templar, we dug into the link between natural law, common law and the way those ideas are said to have flowed into modern institutions. We revisited the Temple Church, Magna Carta and the claim that older moral principles concerning mind, body and property sit above man-made legislation. From there, we explored the distinction between what were described in the discussion as inalienable rights and rights granted by governing bodies, and why that difference matters when people talk about sovereignty, autonomy and the limits of government power.

We also spent time on the contested reputation of Freemasonry itself. Charles drew on his own experience inside the fraternity, arguing that many rank-and-file members are ordinary men trying to do some good, even while corruption and misuse can exist around the edges, as in any institution. That led us into a broader conversation about Masonic constitutions, common law, education, critical thinking and the need to understand original principles before trying to reform anything in society. We wrapped by connecting those themes to parenting, home education and the importance of passing on discernment rather than mere repetition.

• Food For Thought Radio: https://www.fftradio.com/
• Charles Fernandez on Food For Thought Radio: https://www.fftradio.com/djs/charles-fernandez/
• Temple Church (via Middle Temple): https://www.middletemple.org.uk/about-us/temple-church
• Magna Carta (UK Parliament): https://www.parliament.uk/magnacarta/
• United Grand Lodge of England: https://www.ugle.org.uk/
• Supreme Grand Chapter: https://www.ugle.org.uk/about-us/royal-arch/supreme-grand-chapter
• Southgate Masonic Centre: https://www.southgatemasoniccentre.co.uk/
• The Knights Templar (United Kingdom of Great Britain Priory): https://theknightstemplar.co.uk/
• Ordo Templi Orientis: https://www.oto.org/
• The Templars and the Assassins by James Wasserman: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Templars-and-the-Assassins/James-Wasserman/9780892818594
• David Adelman / The People’s Lawyer: https://thepeopleslawyeruk.com/
• David Adelman on Food For Thought Radio: https://www.fftradio.com/djs/david-adelman/
• School - No Place for Children by David Adelman: https://www.hatchards.co.uk/book/school-no-place-for-children/david-adelman/9781978370036
• Mark Byford / The Bowler Hat Farmer: https://thebowlerhatfarmer.com/
• Miles Johnston - Bases Actual: https://truefans.fm/miles-johnston-bases-actual

Richard Vobes is your MC for The Solutions Summit with

Charles Fernandez
Mark Byford The Bowler Hat Farmer
Suhk Singh
Chris Hargeaves
Matt Houston
Victoria Rixon
Jack MacLean
Paul English

In this first Solutions Summit on Food For Thought Radio, I brought together a wide-ranging panel to tackle one central question: if people can see that something is wrong, what practical steps can they take next? We explored recurring themes of autonomy, responsibility and local resilience, with the panel returning again and again to the need for stronger communities, closer family structures, genuine self-reliance and the confidence to act rather than waiting for institutions to solve things for us. Questions from listeners pushed us into a deeper discussion about morality, consciousness, education, food security, surveillance, legal knowledge and how people can begin organising at a local level.

A major part of the conversation focused on real-world action. We heard about legal and data-rights tools, food and farming networks, community organising models, and the case for rebuilding local support systems from the ground up. We also spent significant time on maternity, the NHS and the pressures faced by families trying to make informed decisions for themselves and their children. Across the two hours, the strongest message from the panel was that solutions are unlikely to come from the top down: they begin with informed people, working together locally, reclaiming confidence over mind, body, property, food, family and community life.

• Food For Thought Radio: https://www.fftradio.com/
• Rumble: https://rumble.com/
• Discord: https://discord.com/
• Willoughby Genius: https://www.willoughbygenius.com/
• Willoughby Databusters: https://willoughby-data-buddies.lovable.app/
• The People’s Lawyer: https://thepeopleslawyeruk.com/
• Food Finders Hub: https://foodfindershub.com/
• Crops Not Shops: https://www.cropsnotshops.co.uk/
• NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/
• World Economic Forum: https://www.weforum.org/
• BlackRock: https://www.blackrock.com/corporate/home
• State Street: https://www.statestreet.com/us/en
• Vanguard: https://corporate.vanguard.com/content/corporatesite/us/en/corp/why-vanguard/who-we-are/index.html
• Magna Carta (The National Archives): https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/explore-the-collection/explore-by-time-period/medieval/magna-carta/
• The Declaration of Arbroath (National Records of Scotland): https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/learning-and-events/the-declaration-of-arbroath/
• David Icke: https://davidicke.com/

This week I opened with another foundation-course session and worked through a wide range of practical questions from listeners. We covered Companies House filings, one-login and Universal Credit issues, how people are trying to separate personal and company paperwork, and what to think about when dealing with bank accounts, debt purchasers, alleged small-claims moves, council tax, bailiffs, parking tickets, mortgages and credit card pressure. A big theme running through the first half was confidence: understanding the paperwork in front of you, not panicking, and making sure people learn the process for themselves rather than acting from fear or hearsay.

In the second half, Matt joined me for a deep dive into the Akashic Records. We linked the conversation back to our recent shows on manifestation and energy fields, then explored the Akashic Records as a universal field of memory, connection and possibility. Between us we touched on source consciousness, astral travel, sacred geometry, the pineal gland, the ‘Force’ analogy from Star Wars, and personal experiences of intuition, meditation and altered states. The aim wasn’t to give one fixed definition, but to sketch a wider picture of how people might understand and work with these ideas in their own way.

• Willoughby Rumble: https://www.willoughbyrumble.uk/
• Companies House: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/companies-house
• Universal Credit: https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit
• NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/
• Revolut: https://www.revolut.com/
• Bank of England: https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/
• Halifax: https://www.halifax.co.uk/
• PRA Group UK: https://pragroup.co.uk/
• British Gas: https://www.britishgas.co.uk/
• Dr Joe Dispenza: https://drjoedispenza.com/
• Sacha Stone: https://sachastone.com/
• newXearth: https://newxearth.com/
• Mindvalley: https://www.mindvalley.com/
• Quantum Jumping by Burt Goldman: https://www.mindvalley.com/quantum
• Neville Goddard: https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Neville-Goddard/2124775706
• C.S. Lewis: https://www.cslewis.com/uk
• Star Wars: https://www.starwars.com/
• Spaceballs official trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RK0yd4LtLdg

In this second instalment of our series on the Freemasons and the Knights Templar, I revisited the broad historical arc we laid out in the previous episode: the destruction of the Temple, the rise of the Templars as protectors of pilgrims, the order’s growing wealth and influence, and the enduring mysteries around what they may have discovered beneath Temple Mount. From there, we moved into the Templars’ alleged role in early banking, their dramatic fall in France, and the theories linking their legacy to later Freemasonry, Switzerland, Bannockburn and the continuing fascination with hidden treasure, sacred objects and coded traditions.

From there, Suhk and I shifted into the more esoteric side of the discussion: how Freemasonry is understood from the inside, the difference between public myths and lived experience, and the recurring themes of manifestation, mystic schools, symbolism, mind over matter, and the trivium/quadrivium. We touched on figures such as Neville Goddard, Manly P. Hall and Albert Pike, as well as cultural references from Indiana Jones and Star Wars to Miss Marple and Columbo, using them to illustrate how hidden knowledge, discernment and symbolism are often smuggled into popular culture. Whether listeners agree or disagree with the conclusions, this episode was very much about asking deeper questions and separating legend, ritual and interpretation from the easy clichés that usually surround the subject.

• Food For Thought Radio: https://www.fftradio.com/
• Temple Old Kirk Friends: https://www.templeoldkirk.org/
• United Grand Lodge of England: https://www.ugle.org.uk/
• The Royal Arch - Supreme Grand Chapter: https://www.ugle.org.uk/about-us/royal-arch
• Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Southern Jurisdiction, U.S.A.: https://scottishrite.org/about/
• York Rite Official Information Site: https://www.yorkrite.org/icon/
• Neville Goddard Official: https://nevillegoddardofficial.com/
• Manly P. Hall / Philosophical Research Society: https://manlyhall.org/
• Paul McKenna: https://www.paulmckenna.com/about-paul/
• Temple Church, London: https://www.templechurch.com/
• The Curse of Oak Island: https://www.history.com/shows/the-curse-of-oak-island
• Albert Pike and the history of the Scottish Rite: https://scottishrite.org/about/history/
• Morals and Dogma by Albert Pike: https://lodgeoftheancients.com/library/masonic-texts/morals-and-dogma/
• The Templars and the Assassins by James Wasserman: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Templars-and-the-Assassins/James-Wasserman/9781594778735
• Star Wars: https://www.starwars.com/
• Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark: https://www.lucasfilm.com/productions/raiders-of-the-lost-ark/
• Spaceballs official trailer (MGM Studios): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RK0yd4LtLdg
• Miss Marple: https://www.agathachristie.com/en/characters/miss-marple

Tonight I opened with the foundation-course format and took a run of live questions on company filings, GOV.UK One Login, Universal Credit, bank accounts, debt collection, bailiffs, CCJs, parking issues, and the practical steps listeners are trying to take to organise their paperwork and protect themselves. A big theme throughout the first half was confidence through understanding: knowing what documents say, knowing what systems do, and knowing how to respond calmly instead of reacting in fear.

In the second half, Matt joined me for a deeper spiritual conversation on the Akashic Records. We connected this discussion to recent shows on manifestation and energy fields, and explored ideas around the ether, source, astral communication, astral travelling, sacred geometry, the pineal gland, Kundalini, and the way films, symbols, and myth can act as prompts for bigger questions about consciousness. Between us, we shared personal frameworks and experiences for thinking about the Akashic Records not as something distant, but as something we are already connected to.

• Food For Thought Radio: https://www.fftradio.com/
• Willoughby Genius: https://www.willoughbygenius.com/
• Willoughby Challenger: https://www.willoughbychallenger.uk/
• Willoughby Rumble: https://www.willoughbyrumble.uk/
• Companies House – Find and update company information: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/
• GOV.UK One Login: https://www.gov.uk/using-your-gov-uk-one-login
• Universal Credit: https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit
• NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/
• Royal Courts of Justice: https://www.find-court-tribunal.service.gov.uk/courts/royal-courts-of-justice
• Halifax: https://www.halifax.co.uk/
• PRA Group UK: https://pragroup.co.uk/
• British Gas: https://www.britishgas.co.uk/
• Revolut: https://www.revolut.com/
• Bank of England: https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/
• Visa: https://www.visa.com/
• Register a trade mark (UK IPO): https://www.gov.uk/how-to-register-a-trade-mark
• The Sovereign Project: https://www.thesovereignproject.live/
• Mindvalley: https://www.mindvalley.com/
• Sacha Stone: https://sachastone.com/
• NewXEarth: https://newxearth.com/
• Star Wars: https://www.starwars.com/
• Interstellar: https://www.paramountpictures.com/movies/interstellar
• Spaceballs official trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RK0yd4LtLdg
• Neville Goddard: https://nevillegoddard.com/