Is freedom possible without virtue — and who should set society’s standards? That’s the big question we tackle in this episode of The Brian Nichols Show. Too often, people confuse “disliking” something with wanting government to ban it. But there’s a critical difference between using the state to enforce morality and letting society set boundaries through persuasion, stigma, and cultural norms.

Don’t miss the Expat Money Online Summit (Oct 10–12) — a free online event on protecting wealth, lowering taxes, and securing a Plan B. Get your ticket at ExpatMoneySummit.com and use promo code LIONS for 20% off VIP access!

Studio Sponsor: ⁠Cardio Miracle⁠ - "Unlock the secret to a healthier heart, increased energy levels, and transform your cardiovascular fitness like never before.": ⁠CardioMiracle.com/TBNS⁠

Government’s job is narrow and clear: protect life, liberty, and property. When it wanders outside that lane, it doesn’t create a better society — it creates division and resentment. Yet today, every cultural disagreement seems to get funneled through politics, turning every election into a zero-sum fight to control the moral agenda.

That’s not how a free society survives. Real change doesn’t come from laws or mandates. It comes from culture — from families, communities, and individuals reinforcing responsibility and setting standards without relying on Washington. The goal isn’t to make certain behaviors illegal. The goal is to make them unthinkable.

In this episode, I break down why social stigma, persuasion, and voluntary virtue are more powerful than any piece of legislation. I dig into why Ron Paul’s “unthinkable” principle still matters, why government-enforced morality always backfires, and why the marketplace of ideas is messy but essential to liberty.

If you care about freedom, family, and the future of our country, this is a conversation you can’t afford to miss. Because liberty without virtue collapses into chaos. And virtue imposed by government collapses into tyranny. The only sustainable path is a free society guided by responsibility — not government dictates.

Order ⁠Cardio Miracle⁠ (⁠CardioMiracle.com/TBNS⁠) for 15% off and take a step towards better heart health and overall well-being!

Submit Listener Questions to ⁠[email protected]⁠ to hear your questions and perspectives answered and shared each and every week!

WATCH The Brian Nichols Show, available on ⁠YouTube⁠ & ⁠Rumble⁠. With over 1020 episodes featuring local candidates, elected officials, economists, CEOs, and more, each show educates, enlightens, and informs.

Follow Brian on social media: X.com/Twitter ⁠(https://www.briannicholsshow.com/twitter⁠) & Facebook (⁠https://www.briannicholsshow.com/facebook⁠)

Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to ⁠The Brian Nichols Show ⁠for more captivating interviews and insights into common sense solutions for local problems!

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On this week's Mean Age Daydream, Saudi Arabia's national investment arm teams wit Jared Kushner to eat major US gaming publisher Electronic Arts - is that good, bad, or both? Also: Government shuts down, and Wikipedia and the ADL get exposed.

Care about your liberty and future? Don’t miss the Expat Money Online Summit, October 10–12, hosted by Mikkel Thorup of the Expat Money Show. It’s free to attend and features top experts on protecting wealth, securing second residencies, lowering taxes, and owning property abroad. Upgrade for lifetime replay access and VIP panels with promo code LIONS for 20% off at ⁠https://2025.expatmoneysummit.com/⁠

We have a new show on Lions of Liberty! The Politicks Podcast! Be sure to subscribe to the standalone Politicks Podcast feed. This is the absolute best way to support the show! Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. And remember, they’re all Blood Suckers!

Help support what we do and grow our show! ⁠⁠⁠⁠ http://patreon.com/lionsofliberty⁠⁠⁠⁠ OR support us on Locals! ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lionsofliberty.locals.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Subscribe to the all new FIRST EPISODE PODCAST! ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/ENTS.... First Episode Pod on Rumble: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://rumble.com/c/c-5679432

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I had a great time talking with Lisa De Pasquale about life after losing 170 pounds and her new book, The Gen X Handbook for Middle Age.

Ozempic means lots of thin women with fat-girl personalities. What a fun time to be a single guy!

Check out my book, That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore: On the Death and Rebirth of Comedy https://amzn.to/3VhFa1r    

Watch my sketch comedy streaming on Red Coral Universe: https://redcoraluniverse.com/en/series/the-lou-perez-comedy-68501a2fd369683d0f2a2a88?loopData=true&ccId=675bc891f78f658f73eaa46d 

Rock XX-XY Athletics. You can get 20% off your purchase with promo code LOU20. https://www.xx-xyathletics.com/?sca_ref=7113152.ifIMaKpCG3ZfUHH4 

Attorneys on Retainer https://attorneysforfreedom.my.site.com/signupattorneysonretainerus/s/?promoCode=LU51ZEZ324

Support me at www.substack.com/@louperez    

Join my newsletter www.TheLouPerez.com  

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/.../the-lou-perez.../id1535032081  

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2KAtC7eFS3NHWMZp2UgMVU  

Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/.../2b7d4d.../the-lou-perez-podcast  

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLb5trMQQvT077-L1roE0iZyAgT4dD4EtJ  

Lou Perez is a comedian, producer, and the author of THAT JOKE ISN'T FUNNY ANYMORE: ON THE DEATH AND REBIRTH OF COMEDY. You may have seen him on Gutfeld! , FOX News Primetime, One Nation with Brian Kilmeade, and Open to Debate (with Michael Ian Black).

Lou was the Head Writer and Producer of the Webby Award-winning comedy channel We the Internet TV. During his tenure at WTI, Lou made the kind of comedy that gets you put on lists and your words in the Wall Street Journal: “How I Became a ‘Far-Right Radical.’”

As a stand-up comedian, Lou has opened for Rob Schneider, Rich Vos, Jimmy Dore, Dave Smith, and toured the US and Canada with Scott Thompson. Lou has also produced live shows with Colin Quinn, the Icarus Festival, and the Rutherford Comedy Festival.

For years, Lou performed at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater (both in NYC and L.A.) in sketch shows with the Hammerkatz and his comedy duo, Greg and Lou. Greg and Lou is best known for its sketch "Wolverine's Claws Suck," which has over 20 million views on YouTube alone.

In addition to producing sketch comedy like Comedy Is Murder, performing stand-up across the country, and writing for The Blaze's Align, Lou is on the advisory board of Heresy Press, a FAIR-in-the-arts fellow, and host of the live debate series The Wrong Take and The Lou Perez Podcast (which is part of the Lions of Liberty Podcast Network).

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Finding Freedom, John Odermatt welcomes Buck Johnson from the Counterflow podcast to discuss breaking away from mainstream narratives. They explore Buck’s journey from atheism to Christianity and how faith, culture, and liberty intersect in today’s world. Buck shares the pivotal moments that led him to the Orthodox Church and how recent events have sparked spiritual revival. The conversation delves into the dangers of materialism, the importance of tradition, and the role of community in turbulent times. John and Buck reflect on the impact of political disillusionment and the need to focus on eternal truths over fleeting political victories. They also discuss the power of forgiveness, especially in the wake of tragedy. The episode offers encouragement for those feeling lost or nihilistic, emphasizing the hope found in faith. Listeners are invited to connect, share their thoughts, and explore further resources.

Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction & Episode Overview
01:28 – Buck Johnson’s Background and Podcasting Journey
06:02 – From Atheism to Orthodoxy: Buck’s Faith Story
16:00 – COVID, Lockdowns, and Spiritual Awakening
27:00 – Faith, Politics, and the Limits of Libertarianism
38:00 – The Power of Forgiveness and Recent Tragedies
45:00 – Navigating Nihilism and Finding Community
55:00 – Final Thoughts, Plugs, and How to Connect

Links & Socials:

Buck Johnson’s Counterflow Podcast: https://counterflowpodcast.com/

Counterflow on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CounterflowPodcast

Counterflow on Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/CounterflowPodcast

Buck Johnson on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/buckrebel

Dissident Media: https://dissidentmedia.net/

John Odermatt on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/johndermatt

John Odermatt on Instagram: https://instagram.com/johndermatt

Email John: [email protected]

Fox and Sons Coffee: https://foxandsons.com/ (use promo code JOHN for 15% off $40+)

Care about your liberty and future? Don’t miss the Expat Money Online Summit, October 10–12, hosted by Mikkel Thorup of the Expat Money Show. It’s free to attend and features top experts on protecting wealth, securing second residencies, lowering taxes, and owning property abroad. Upgrade for lifetime replay access and VIP panels with promo code LIONS for 20% off.

We have a new show on Lions of Liberty! The Politicks Podcast! Be sure to subscribe to the standalone Politicks Podcast feed. This is the absolute best way to support the show! Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. And remember, they’re all Blood Suckers!

Subscribe to John’s Finding Freedom Show solo feed to listen to “Pursuit of Freedom,” which is a new podcast series where John shares the highs and lows of his entrepreneurial journey. Listen and Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Follow the Lions of Liberty:

Twitter

Rumble

YouTube

Instagram

Telegram

Get access to all of our bonus audio content, livestreams, behind-the-scenes segments and more for as little as $5 per month by joining the Lions of Liberty Pride on Patreon OR support us on Locals!

Check out our merchandise at the Lions of Liberty Store for all of our awesome t-shirts, mugs and hats!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of PoliTicks, the crew dives into the latest in political absurdity, from YouTube’s policy reversals to presidential trolling at the White House. The hosts debate censorship, discuss the infamous autopen prank, and reflect on the cultural impact of political memes. They also tackle the closure of a radical bookstore, the Tylenol Americans meme, and the ethics of euthanasia in Canada. With sharp wit and irreverent humor, the team keeps the conversation lively and thought-provoking. Don’t miss the musical moments and listener shout-outs at the end!

Care about your liberty and future? Don’t miss the Expat Money Online Summit, October 10–12, hosted by Mikkel Thorup of the Expat Money Show. It’s free to attend and features top experts on protecting wealth, securing second residencies, lowering taxes, and owning property abroad. Upgrade for lifetime replay access and VIP panels with promo code LIONS for 20% off at ⁠⁠https://2025.expatmoneysummit.com/⁠⁠

We have a new show on Lions of Liberty! The Politicks Podcast! Be sure to subscribe to the standalone Politicks Podcast feed. This is the absolute best way to support the show! Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. And remember, they’re all Blood Suckers!

Help support what we do and grow our show! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://patreon.com/lionsofliberty⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ OR support us on Locals! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lionsofliberty.locals.com/⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why does government keep wasting so much of our money—and can anything actually be done to fix it? That’s the question more and more Americans are asking as debt explodes and inefficiency runs wild. Today, we’re digging into one of the boldest ideas to take on this mess: the Department of Government Efficiency—better known as “DOGE.” Is it just another talking point, or is it the blueprint for real accountability?

Don’t miss the Expat Money Online Summit (Oct 10–12) — a free online event on protecting wealth, lowering taxes, and securing a Plan B. Get your ticket at ExpatMoneySummit.com and use promo code LIONS for 20% off VIP access!

Studio Sponsor: ⁠Cardio Miracle⁠ - "Unlock the secret to a healthier heart, increased energy levels, and transform your cardiovascular fitness like never before.": ⁠CardioMiracle.com/TBNS⁠

In this episode of The Brian Nichols Show, we cut through the noise to expose how bloated government spending really is, from D.C. down to your local statehouse. Forget the political spin—this conversation gets to the heart of what’s broken and how to actually start trimming the fat.

Brandon Prichard joins the show to share firsthand insight from his time as an elected official in North Dakota, where he saw the swamp-style waste at the state level. From stacked committees to lawmakers who talk conservative but vote like big spenders, he explains how entrenched the problem really is—and why citizens can’t just sit on the sidelines.

We tackle the objections head-on. Critics say cutting spending means cutting lives. But what if taxpayer dollars are being funneled into activist groups, bricks-for-riots, or wasteful overseas projects instead of real needs? We walk through how to fight back against “weaponized empathy” and show the public the difference between compassion and corruption.

If you’re tired of seeing trillions vanish while nothing changes, this episode gives you both the fire and the framework to make a difference. Whether it’s running for office, helping good candidates, or simply knowing how to counter the emotional traps thrown by the Left, you’ll walk away with practical steps to bring accountability back to government.

Order ⁠Cardio Miracle⁠ (⁠CardioMiracle.com/TBNS⁠) for 15% off and take a step towards better heart health and overall well-being!

Submit Listener Questions to ⁠[email protected]⁠ to hear your questions and perspectives answered and shared each and every week!

WATCH The Brian Nichols Show, available on ⁠YouTube⁠ & ⁠Rumble⁠. With over 1020 episodes featuring local candidates, elected officials, economists, CEOs, and more, each show educates, enlightens, and informs.

Follow Brian on social media: X.com/Twitter ⁠(https://www.briannicholsshow.com/twitter⁠) & Facebook (⁠https://www.briannicholsshow.com/facebook⁠)

Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to ⁠The Brian Nichols Show ⁠for more captivating interviews and insights into common sense solutions for local problems!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's Mean Age Daydream, Brian can't believe how the left has reached a "Westboro Baptist Church" level of disgusting intolerance in protesting Charlie Kirk memorials. Also: The HHS announced a connection between acetaminophen and autism, so insane pregnant DNCs are eating it like candy and potentially risking their children's development.

Care about your liberty and future? Don’t miss the Expat Money Online Summit, October 10–12, hosted by Mikkel Thorup of the Expat Money Show. It’s free to attend and features top experts on protecting wealth, securing second residencies, lowering taxes, and owning property abroad. Upgrade for lifetime replay access and VIP panels with promo code LIONS for 20% off at ⁠https://2025.expatmoneysummit.com/⁠

We have a new show on Lions of Liberty! The Politicks Podcast! Be sure to subscribe to the standalone Politicks Podcast feed. This is the absolute best way to support the show! Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. And remember, they’re all Blood Suckers!

Help support what we do and grow our show! ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://patreon.com/lionsofliberty⁠⁠⁠⁠ OR support us on Locals! ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lionsofliberty.locals.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Subscribe to the all new FIRST EPISODE PODCAST! ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/ENTS⁠⁠⁠⁠...

First Episode Pod on Rumble: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://rumble.com/c/c-5679432

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kendric Tonn is a painter. He paints. Not houses. Oil painting. On this episode of The Lou Perez Podcast I talk with Kendric about classical painting, Florence (the city, not my mother), El Museo del Prado, art collecting, and how he sees the world as a painter vs how I see the world as a comedian.

Kendric gives a helpful tip on how to appreciate a Mark Rothko painting: Understand them, in a sense, as landscapes that you can project yourself into. You can experience Rothkos as emotional landscapes.

And it turns out you don’t need to be a millionaire to start collecting art. Kendric offers some great advice on how to get started. (It also works as really good dating advice.)

If you’d like to buy Kendric’s work, reach out to him.

Check out my book, That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore: On the Death and Rebirth of Comedy https://amzn.to/3VhFa1r    

Watch my sketch comedy streaming on Red Coral Universe: https://redcoraluniverse.com/en/series/the-lou-perez-comedy-68501a2fd369683d0f2a2a88?loopData=true&ccId=675bc891f78f658f73eaa46d 

Rock XX-XY Athletics. You can get 20% off your purchase with promo code LOU20. https://www.xx-xyathletics.com/?sca_ref=7113152.ifIMaKpCG3ZfUHH4 

Attorneys on Retainer https://attorneysforfreedom.my.site.com/signupattorneysonretainerus/s/?promoCode=LU51ZEZ324 

Support me at www.substack.com/@louperez    

Join my newsletter www.TheLouPerez.com  

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/.../the-lou-perez.../id1535032081  

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2KAtC7eFS3NHWMZp2UgMVU  

Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/.../2b7d4d.../the-lou-perez-podcast  

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLb5trMQQvT077-L1roE0iZyAgT4dD4EtJ  

Lou Perez is a comedian, producer, and the author of THAT JOKE ISN'T FUNNY ANYMORE: ON THE DEATH AND REBIRTH OF COMEDY. You may have seen him on Gutfeld! , FOX News Primetime, One Nation with Brian Kilmeade, and Open to Debate (with Michael Ian Black).

Lou was the Head Writer and Producer of the Webby Award-winning comedy channel We the Internet TV. During his tenure at WTI, Lou made the kind of comedy that gets you put on lists and your words in the Wall Street Journal: “How I Became a ‘Far-Right Radical.’”

As a stand-up comedian, Lou has opened for Rob Schneider, Rich Vos, Jimmy Dore, Dave Smith, and toured the US and Canada with Scott Thompson. Lou has also produced live shows with Colin Quinn, the Icarus Festival, and the Rutherford Comedy Festival.

For years, Lou performed at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater (both in NYC and L.A.) in sketch shows with the Hammerkatz and his comedy duo, Greg and Lou. Greg and Lou is best known for its sketch "Wolverine's Claws Suck," which has over 20 million views on YouTube alone.

In addition to producing sketch comedy like Comedy Is Murder, performing stand-up across the country, and writing for The Blaze's Align, Lou is on the advisory board of Heresy Press, a FAIR-in-the-arts fellow, and host of the live debate series The Wrong Take and The Lou Perez Podcast (which is part of the Lions of Liberty Podcast Network).

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of "Finding Freedom," host John Odermatt dives into the rise of professional conspiracy theorists in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination. John explores how skepticism toward institutions has fueled a new wave of online personalities who monetize controversy and speculation. He shares personal reflections on the dangers of jumping to conclusions, drawing from his own experiences as a hunter to debunk misconceptions about the incident. The episode also covers the emotional memorial for Charlie Kirk, highlighting Erica Kirk’s powerful speech and her remarkable display of faith and forgiveness. John encourages listeners to think critically, do their own research, and avoid falling into the trap of having opinions assigned by others. He closes with a call for skepticism—of both official narratives and conspiracy theorists—and previews upcoming interviews with thought leaders in the liberty movement.

Links & Social Media

Fox and Sons Coffee: foxnsons.com (use promo code JOHN for 15% off $40+)

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @JohnOdermatt

Instagram: @JohnOdermatt

Care about your liberty and future? Don’t miss the Expat Money Online Summit, October 10–12, hosted by Mikkel Thorup of the Expat Money Show. It’s free to attend and features top experts on protecting wealth, securing second residencies, lowering taxes, and owning property abroad. Upgrade for lifetime replay access and VIP panels with promo code LIONS for 20% off.

Stop paying health insurance companies your hard-earned dollars. Go to Join Crowd Health now and experience freedom from health insurance. Healthcare for under $100! You get access to a team of health bill negotiators, low cost prescription and lab testing tools, as well as a database of low cost high quality doctors vetted by CrowdHealth. And what if something major happens? You pay the first $15K, then the Crowd steps in to help fund the rest.. Go to Join Crowd Health and get started for $80/mo for the first three months by using promo code LIONS at sign-up.

We have a new show on Lions of Liberty! The Politicks Podcast! Be sure to subscribe to the standalone Politicks Podcast feed. This is the absolute best way to support the show! Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. And remember, they’re all Blood Suckers!

Subscribe to John’s Finding Freedom Show solo feed to listen to “Pursuit of Freedom,” which is a new podcast series where John shares the highs and lows of his entrepreneurial journey. Listen and Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Follow the Lions of Liberty:

Twitter

Rumble

YouTube

Instagram

Telegram

Get access to all of our bonus audio content, livestreams, behind-the-scenes segments and more for as little as $5 per month by joining the Lions of Liberty Pride on Patreon OR support us on Locals!

Check out our merchandise at the Lions of Liberty Store for all of our awesome t-shirts, mugs and hats!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is America tearing itself apart because we’ve forgotten how to see each other as human beings? In this episode, we dig into one of the toughest questions facing our country today: how do we push back against the rising tide of political hate, cultural division, and government abuse—and actually start winning real battles for liberty and human dignity?

Don’t miss the Expat Money Online Summit (Oct 10–12) — a free online event on protecting wealth, lowering taxes, and securing a Plan B. Get your ticket at ExpatMoneySummit.com and use promo code LIONS for 20% off VIP access!

Studio Sponsor: ⁠Cardio Miracle⁠ - "Unlock the secret to a healthier heart, increased energy levels, and transform your cardiovascular fitness like never before.": ⁠CardioMiracle.com/TBNS⁠

We kick things off by reflecting on the shocking assassination of Charlie Kirk and the disturbing reactions it provoked online. Why are so many people celebrating violence against those they disagree with? And what does this say about the broken state of our politics? Spike Cohen pulls no punches as he unpacks the deeper cultural rot driving this divide.

But this isn’t just another doom-and-gloom conversation. Spike shares his personal journey of faith—how embracing Christ has transformed the way he approaches activism, persuasion, and even political conflict. Instead of fighting fire with fire, he’s building a movement rooted in reconciliation, respect, and actually treating people like people.

That movement—You Are the Power—isn’t just about lofty ideals. It’s winning. From keeping families together when CPS tries to rip them apart, to exposing corrupt officials, to passing actual laws that protect the innocent, Spike and his team are showing how liberty-minded activists can make a real difference. You’ll hear powerful stories of families saved and victories that prove change is possible.

If you’ve ever felt hopeless about the direction of our country, this conversation will give you more than perspective—it will give you a blueprint. Liberty doesn’t have to mean endless losing. It means rolling up our sleeves, working locally, and standing up for the values that make us truly free. Don’t miss this one.

Order ⁠Cardio Miracle⁠ (⁠CardioMiracle.com/TBNS⁠) for 15% off and take a step towards better heart health and overall well-being!
Submit Listener Questions to ⁠[email protected]⁠ to hear your questions and perspectives answered and shared each and every week!

WATCH The Brian Nichols Show, available on ⁠YouTube⁠ & ⁠Rumble⁠. With over 1015 episodes featuring local candidates, elected officials, economists.

CEOs, and more, each show educates, enlightens, and informs.

Follow Brian on social media: X.com/Twitter ⁠(https://www.briannicholsshow.com/twitter⁠) & Facebook (⁠https://www.briannicholsshow.com/facebook⁠)

Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to ⁠The Brian Nichols Show ⁠for more captivating interviews and insights into common sense solutions for local problems!

Don’t miss the Expat Money Online Summit (Oct 10–12) — a free online event on protecting wealth, lowering taxes, and securing a Plan B. Get your ticket at ExpatMoneySummit.com and use promo code LIONS for 20% off VIP access!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices