In this episode, we speak with Lucy Biggers, head of social media at The Free Press and a former climate activist who has completely rethought the story she was telling the world and herself. Lucy shares how she went from a left-wing digital newsroom steeped in oppressor–oppressed ideology and climate doomsday content to slowly "re-educating" herself, especially after COVID lockdowns made her question what the climate movement was really asking of ordinary people.

We talk about how smart, idealistic young people get pulled into movements, from climate activism to "Free Palestine" marches and democratic socialists like AOC and Zohran Mamdani, often in search of purpose, belonging, and someone to blame. Lucy walks us through the emotional cost of changing her mind in public, losing old followers, gaining new ones, and learning to stand on principle instead of group approval.

We also go bigger: what's happening in our universities and K–12 schools, the rise of extreme voices on both the woke left and the conspiratorial right, and why Lucy still believes in American exceptionalism, free thinking, and the courage to say, "I was wrong" as an act of wisdom, not shame.

The Free Press

Key Timestamps + Signature Quotes 00:00 — Introduction & Lucy's Background

Quote: "I debunk the fear around climate change because people deserve the truth, not terror."

01:10 — Why We Wanted Lucy On

Quote: "So many young people today are operating from a state of fear." — Yelena

01:52 — Lucy's Political Journey

Quote: "I lived half my twenties believing America was evil — I was completely swept up in it."

02:30 — Inside the Newsroom Groupthink

Quote: "It was ground zero for oppressor–oppressed ideology. I didn't realize how deep it ran."

03:50 — Her Climate Activism Years

Quote: "Activism became my meaning, my identity, my way to feel good about myself."

05:01 — COVID Breaks the Spell

Quote: "The world shut down and emissions fell only 5%. I thought—what exactly do they want from us?"

05:45 — Quietly Leaving the Movement

Quote: "I gave myself space to think for the first time in years."

06:49 — Going Public With New Beliefs

Quote: "I had to develop a stronger center of truth than the pushback waiting for me."

07:05 — How Brainwashing Happens

Quote: "I'd do anything to fit in — that's how the ideology hooks you."

09:28 — Re-Education & Books That Changed Her

Quote: "I wasn't deprogrammed overnight — I had to re-educate myself page by page."

10:17 — Can Universities Be Saved?

Quote: "Six billion dollars from Qatar changes what gets taught. Money goes a long way." — Polina

11:05 — Why Young People Hate the West

Quote: "America is imperfect — but exceptional. Most of the world can't tell their kids to 'follow your dreams.'"

12:43 — How Bad Ideas Spread Online

Quote: "You see a headline, you don't read the article, and your brain absorbs fear as fact."

16:49 — Losing Followers & Building a New Audience

Quote: "I lost thousands at first — then gained tens of thousands who actually want the truth."

19:35 — Friendships & Family After Changing Beliefs

Quote: "My real friends stayed. The ones who left were never real in the first place."

20:46 — Climate Activists → Free Palestine Movement

Quote: "It's the same psychological pattern: well-meaning young people taught a black-and-white story."

21:58 — Social Media Censorship

Quote: "In 2019, I would have been banned for simply asking questions."

23:12 — Climate Facts No One Teaches

Quote: "CO₂ is 0.04% of the atmosphere. How did I not know that after years covering climate?"

25:04 — When Activism Becomes a Religion

Quote: "There's a crisis of meaning — causes become the new church." — Yelena

26:51 — The Bigger Ideology Behind It

Quote: "I used to think 'Marxism' critiques were crazy. Now I see they were right."

27:33 — What Gives Her Hope

Quote: "When one person stands up, it creates a resonance that gives others permission to do the same."

30:23 — Mumdani, AOC & Democratic Socialists

Quote: "Feeling like a victim is a dead end — you can't build a life from that mindset."

33:11 — AOC's Brand Trap

Quote: "She never had space to change — her entire identity depends on that worldview."

34:09 — What Do We Do About Schools & Universities?

Quote: "It's time for new institutions — maybe even a Free Press University."

36:13 — Tucker, Candace & the New Far-Right

Quote: "Extremism on the right mirrors extremism on the left — it's the same loss of grounding."

39:01 — Why It's Hard to Push Back on the Right

Quote: "Not everyone stands on principle — the last two months showed us that clearly."

41:48 — Accountability vs. Blame

Quote: "Each side finds someone to blame. No one wants accountability." — Yelena

42:47 — John Fetterman's Example

Quote: "He hasn't moved — everyone else has." — Polina

43:22 — Where to Follow Lucy

Quote: "If you follow me anywhere, follow me on Instagram — it's where I speak most freely."

43:52 — Polina's Closing Reflection

Quote: "Wisdom is having the courage to say: I was wrong."