Andrew is a catholic, a writer, and a rural revivalist advocating for a traditional lifestyle.

We talked about his online handle shagbark, about his experience living nomadically across the US for 5 years, the collapse of the western civilization, degeneracy and escape, rumspringer , the dark night of the soul, finding optimism in building local communities, rural vs urban life, the Amish, opportunities in the future and the ultimate importance of land, nature, and spirituality for personal fulfillment.

Connect with Andrew on Twitter @Shagbark or via his Substack

Full Transcript @ Leafbox.com

Thomas Kloepfer and his wife run Pitchfork Farms, an eco-friendly farm located on Mukaishima in Onomichi, Hiroshima. The farm cultivates seasonal fruits, vegetables, and herbs on a thriving hillside market garden and orchard overlooking the Seto-Inland sea. As regenerative farmers, the farm aims to maintain natural cycles and reduce the use of off-farm resources by producing their own energy, seeds, and fertilizers. In addition to being a sustainable farm, Pitchfork Farms is also an off-grid energy producer and rainwater and well water harvester. The farm is home to sheep, chickens, and ducks, and is dedicated to connecting the community to sustainable farming practices while celebrating the land and people.

We spoke in detail about his past, his goals, farming, and future.

Transcript @ Leafbox.com

Connect with Pitchforkfarms.jp

In November 2022, Marek Lehocky and his swimming partner Dr. Steven Minaglia completed a challenging, staged circumnavigation swim around the island of Oahu. This impressive accomplishment marks the first unassisted circumnavigation of the island on record.

Marek Lehocky, originally from Slovakia and now residing in Honolulu, is the CEO of Kreston ProWorks, a business support services company based in Tokyo, Japan.

During our conversation, we delved into various topics such as his upbringing, love for the ocean, the importance of goal-setting, transnational business experience, breathing and perseverance, and his insight into determination.

Marek brings a unique cultural lens to the conversation, which is invaluable in understanding and navigating the complexities of the modern world. His multicultural background and transnational experience provide him with a nuanced perspective in understanding and navigating the complexities of the modern world.

Connect with Marek and his Oahu Circumnavigation Swim

Full Transcript @ Leafbox.com

Interview: Arturo Tafoya

Maybe you’ve heard of Cicada 3301. If not its a mysterious and highly secretive organization that emerged in 2012 and over several years posted on various internet forums and websites, puzzled that induced steganography, cryptography and other forms of esoteric knowledge. Some believed it to be a recruitment tool for highly skilled linguists, computer programmers, cryto-graphers.  

The puzzles led participants on a months-long scavenger hunt around the world, with clues hidden in various locations such as books, music, and artwork. Those who successfully completed the puzzles were believed to have been contacted by Cicada 3301 and offered the opportunity to join the organization, although the true nature and purpose of the group remain unknown.

Cicada 3301 has been the subject of much speculation and investigation over the years, with some suggesting it may be a government agency, a private organization, or even an elaborate prank or social experiment. However, the true identity and intentions of Cicada 3301 remain shrouded in mystery.

I however had the pleasure of speaking with artist and researcher Arturo Tafoya who was recruited to create art assets for Cicada 3301 and was engaged actively with a group that ultimately was likely a splinter faction of Cicada 3301 in 2017.

We spoke in detail about his experience, the current state of Cicada, disinformation, psychological operations, hyperstition , QAnon, other internet lore and ultimately sense making.

Arturo is currently working on a book and a documentary. His art was used in a VICE and HBO documentary on QAnon and I thought this was a good discussion and introduction to a complex information world.  Hopefully you can take his advise to remain emotionally disconnected in your own sense making.

Researcher and Artist Arturo Tafoya

He archives videos ConspiracyDistillery.com or on Youtube

Read transcript and notes @ leafbox.com

Aaron Fletcher is a nomadic farmhand and subsistence dairy shepherd who lives currently in the Pacific Northwest. He lives a "home-free" lifestyle that involves connecting with local food sources and working towards local food sustainability. As a voluntarily "home-free" activist, Aaron focuses on local solutions to world problems.

In Aaron's words, being "home-free" is not the same as being homeless or housed. Instead, it is the third side of a coin. He believes that there have always been people who have possessions and those who do not, but being "home-free" means being a "have-not-want."

Aaron's experiments in minimizing his ecological footprint, connecting with local food sources, and building communities are inspiring and educational. His lifestyle offers one model for surviving and thriving in a post-collapse society. We can all learn from his experiences and apply them to our own lives, whether we choose to follow in his footsteps or not.

Thank you for listening and reading.

More information from Aaron @ 123homefree.org

Full Transcription @ Leafbox.com

Credits : Photos from Aaron Fletcher

AI Transcription done via Whisper Library

Musical intro in podcast features sound samples from

* Tom Skinner - The Day After Tomorrow * JJJJJerome Ellis - Fountain #3

Yannick Dauby is a French sound artist and field recorder based in Taiwan. He also works in sound designs for film. He also produces audio documentary as well as electroacoustic music compositions.

Dauby’s works are inspired by ethnography, amphibian conservation, stories from the forests & mountains and marine biology. He collaborates with communities and individuals in Hakka villages and Indigenous territories of Taiwan.I find his soundscapes inspiring and his work fascinating. I recently had the pleasure and honor of engaging his work more deeply via an interview.

I recommend listening to the soundcape above that he provided as well as the additional ones below a fuller immersive experience. This was a pleasure to edit and explore. I hope you enjoy it as well.

Please read the accompany interview and listen to additional soundscapes + photography for a full experience.

Full interview @ www.leafbox.com/interview-yannick-dauby/

Dr Jose L. Domingo is the Distinguished Professor (Emeritus) of Toxicology and Environmental Health at the Universitat Rovira i Virgili, School of Medicine.

We spoke in detail about his interest and history in toxicology, regulation, concerns regarding the lack of study into the potential side effects of COVID 19 vaccines, regulatory frameworks, the peer review process, and more.

Dr Domingo's research focuses on, among other topics, the potential human health effects of environmental and food contaminants.

Dr Domingo is the editor-in-chief of the scientific journal Environmental Research and was until recently the editor-in-chief of Food and Chemical Toxicology.

Prof. Domingo is founder and director of the Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health and Tecnatox (www.tecnatox.cat). He is author or co-author of 680 papers (Scopus) published in international peer-reviewed journals. According to Google Scholar, these papers mean over 30,200 citations with a current h-index of 86. He has managed an important number of projects for public administrations and private companies. He has directed more than 40 PhD theses. Prof. Domingo is a Highly Cited Researcher and he belongs to various international scientific societies such as the Society of Toxicology USA, INA, SEBM, etc.

Full Transcript @ Leafbox.com

Dr Cook is a board certified psychiatrist in private practice. He is the founding director of Beyond Mental Health, a Honolulu, Hawaii practice combining traditional psychiatry with alternative care models using nutritional supplements, nootropics, TMS therapy, medical cannabis, ketamine, to empower patients. Dr Cook is also and advisor to the Clarity Project, a lobbying effort to improve medical access to psychadelics in the state.

We spoke in detail about his general practice, marijuana, ketamine, psychadelics and alternative modalities, societal breakdown, parenting and the role of technology in today’s mental health climate.

Full Transcript @ Leafbox.com

Remedial Literacy Specialist, Author, and Waldorf Literacy Curriculum Advisor

While at first the following interview might appear only to be of interest and highly specific to the world of Waldorf educators, parents and students - rest assured that I can recommend it to a broader community. Valuable lessons and questions arise from the conversation with Jennifer Milizer-Kopperal including but not limited to the role of alternative education, the philosophy of Rudolph Steiner, the role of technology in education and learning, the holistic importance of literacy, multi-lingual environments, child development and other related broad topics etc. 

Jennifer Milizer-Kopperal is a literacy remedial specialist, author and educator developing and improving literacy programs in Waldorf Education. 

She is the co-author along with Janet Langley of the The Roadmap to Literacy: A Guide to Teaching Language Arts in Waldorf Schools Grades 1 through 3. The guide provides clear guidance on teaching literacy in the early grades. It builds off the work of Rudolf Steiner, founder of Waldorf education, by adding in material that is specific to the English language as well as modern research in literacy skills. 

She is also also author of the sequel Continuing the Journey to Literacy: A Guide to Teaching Language Arts in Waldorf Schools Grades 4 through 8  Students in this collection then dive into the subject blocks and learn about English, history, geography, natural science, and more. 

Jennifer’s two books form a complete program for teaching language arts in Waldorf Schools grades 1–8. She calls this program Renewal of Literacy. Jennifer is also the creator of www.renewalofliteracy.com.

Learn more @ 

https://renewalofliteracy.com/

Full Transcript @ Leafbox.com

Also recommend reading Jennifer's post interview notes that are available within the interview transcription.

For this week’s conversation I had the pleasure of learning from Brian Patterson, a Cayman Islands based, Bermudian corporate offshoring expert, crypto council and lawyer. 

With the entire FTX implosion currently occurring I thought it would be prudent to speak with someone at the heart of the nexus between crypto, the Caribbean, international offshoring, regulation and international banking. 

For those not caught up with the FTX scandal - I recommend reading before listening or reading the below interview.

* “Sadly, FTX” Excellent Summary by Zvi Mowshowitz 

* A Grand Unified Theory of the FTX Disaster - by Mathew Crawford - For a more ‘conspiratorial take on the implosion but equally important summary 

Brian Patterson is also my first cousin. He is originally Bermudian but is based currently in the Cayman Islands. He is also a certified executive coach and trainer, an RYT-200 yoga and meditation teacher, and an avid scuba diver.

Full Transcription @ Leafbox.com