MAD Warfare Podcast

They say to understand power, follow the money. But what if instead… you followed the comedy?

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Solvita Denisa Liepniece, a strategic communication expert who coined the term "hahaganda" to describe how authoritarian regimes use humor to influence, manipulate, and erase. 😶‍🌫️

We cover: — How Kremlin-backed sketch shows used Nazi references to smear political rivals — Why silence is one of the strongest signals of censorship — How Putin followed a nuclear weapons speech with a laugh-filled comedy appearance — What makes Ukrainian jokes in bomb shelters more than comic relief — Why Zelensky's rise wasn't a fluke—it was narrative strategy, executed in prime time — How laughter bonds, excludes, and programs your brain's sense of "us"

And yes: there's a humor survival kit.

And yes: you'll want one.

#CognitiveWarfare #Propaganda #NarrativeStrategy #Zelensky #Putin #MADWarfare

This episode is supported by Grace Kim—a humane technologist and strategist who helps ideas (and kids!) navigate complexity with heart. Check out her middle-grade novella The Realm of Whispers—co-authored with Jasmine Leng—or learn more at Mapping Insight.

🎶 BONUS: This sponsorship includes a custom MAD-style song + video that you'll hear in the episode. (We make weird things for wonderful people.)

Want your own custom ad—or to sponsor an episode of MAD? Email us at [email protected]

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Notable Quotes:

"Humor connects. And sometimes it disconnects."

• "One specifically relevant element with humor is silence. On what topics you are not making jokes."

• "Humor could be used both to attack and to defend. It could be used in both directions."

• "Try to create the library, the collection of these moments when you were united with those who are your core tribe."

• "It's good to laugh together—but it is important to ask: why?"

Resources + References: 📚 Wolf the Manipulator & Conspiracies – Children's books on manipulation and rumor by Solvita 📺 KVN (Caven) – Soviet-era sketch show still shaping post-Soviet politics 🎭 Servant of the People – Satirical series that launched Zelensky's political career 🧠 Man's Search for Meaning – Viktor Frankl's reflections on survival, humor, and resilience 📹 Putin's 2018 appearance laughing 38+ times on state TV

Your Turn: What jokes shouldn't be funny—but are? What humor has helped you survive something hard?

We wanna hear them. 📬 [email protected] 📣 Or tag us @madwarfarepodcast

We're on LinkedIn. Because, funny.

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Big thanks to Elle Younker for being a consistent supporter of MAD Warfare. Her brain is big, her heart is sharp, and her backing helps keep this whole thing moving. Check out her incredible work at the Hive Social Garden.

WANT TO SUPPORT MAD? Sponsor us. We'll make you a weird, wonderful custom video. Email [email protected] (Or just send snacks. That works too.)

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MAD Warfare™️ is hosted by narrative strategist Jocelyn Brady and cognitive neuroscientist Sean Anthony Guillory. Edited and produced by Amine el Filali. Visit our website at madwarfare.com for extra giggles. And send your wishes, weird ideas, dream guests, and (yes it bears repeating) sponsorship inquiries to [email protected].

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FAIR USE: This show is MAD enough to include homages, short clips, and references that provide vital context and/or moments of joy. We DEEPLY respect every creator's work and use these moments purely for educational, artistic, and transformative purposes under Fair Use. If we are missing attributions or you would like to collaborate, please reach out—we're always happy to chat!

How do you measure the success of a kill shot? A character cancellation? A diss track that hits harder than a drone strike?

It's never as simple as "target down." But that's often how success gets measured in war—and in culture. Short-term wins. Long-term fallout. No real accounting for what stories we're cementing along the way.

So in this episode, we're stepping into one of the most uncomfortable questions we've asked yet: What makes an assassination "successful"?

(Important note: We do NOT condone assassinations or violence of any kind. But we do think these events—and their ripple effects—are worth analyzing if we want a better future.)

From world leaders to hip hop gods, we examine how targeted takedowns work on the battlefield of public imagination. This is warfare through the lens of narrative. And whether you're nodding along or squirming, there's a reason you're still listening.

Also, yes: we built a framework. It's systems theory meets cognitive warfare tool meets Sesame Street. A test to assess the success of kinetic strikes, including assassinations.

And it's called … well. You'll have to listen to find out. (Try not to giggle.)

Let's go there.

Key Topics: What MLK, Shinzo Abe, Drake, and a CEO reveal about how power gets preserved—or shattered Why we feel more for a single named character than for thousands of unnamed victims The narrative power of a diss track vs. a campaign speech How kinetic action tells a story, whether or not it's strategic

Notable Quotes: "It always creates a lasting story. It's just … did your action contribute to the story you wanna tell?" "And guess who destroys the other? The poet. The writer. The archetype of authenticity." "Words in this instance can absolutely kill you." "If it only took one bullet to absolutely change society... I mean, I guess we'd save a lot in terms of defense budgets." "He made himself the question, and now we have to live in the world where we have to answer that."

Resources + Links Shout out to Dr. Rebecca Nicholson (Ep 003: Unconventional Healing): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pO06pBQF_w4&pp=ygUdcmViZWNjYSBuaWNob2xzb24gbWFkIHdhcmZhcmU%3D How public sentiment changed after Shinzo Abe's assassination (Spectacles): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFn6gWYMDpo Reflections on MLK's killing and the 1968 Fair Housing Act (History Pod): ​​https://youtu.be/xkbKutv0MP0?si=c2tLIGvE32TADZJl "The Failure, Fear and Frenzy Around Luigi Mangione" (Josh Johnson): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZl_ZBzvifA Prisoners React to Magione's Conditions (News Nation) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCml-w9MQ7Y Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us" music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H58vbez_m4E Lamar performing "Not Like Us" at the Super Bowl: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvqpiUlMsB4

Follow/Connect with MAD Warfare Website: madwarfare.com Email: [email protected] Instagram: @madwarfarepodcast YouTube: @MADWarfarePodcast LinkedIn: MAD Warfare

Your opinion requested: We asked: Is Drake dead? (Narratively speaking.) You tell us. Email: [email protected] We're collecting your verdicts.

WANT TO SUPPORT MAD? Squeeeee. Get in touch with us at [email protected] to get your brand, book, business or brain farts (really, we'll take 'em) featured on our show as a MAD Sponsor. Ask us about our Custom Videos if you're super cool. — MAD Warfare™️ is hosted by narrative strategist Jocelyn Brady and cognitive neuroscientist Sean Anthony Guillory. Edited and produced by Amine el Filali. Visit our website at madwarfare.com for extra giggles. And send your wishes, weird ideas, dream guests, and (yes it bears repeating) sponsorship inquiries to [email protected]. — FAIR USE: This show is MAD enough to include homages, short clips, and references that provide vital context and/or moments of joy. We DEEPLY respect every creator's work and use these moments purely for educational, artistic, and transformative purposes under Fair Use. If we are missing attributions or you would like to collaborate, please reach out—we're always happy to chat!

Hitchcock warned us. We didn't listen. Perhaps the bags can save us. madwarfare.com

The guy who helped Travis Scott go viral breaks down the fame machine and modern influence warfare.

What if your favorite artist got famous not because of talent, but because a guy in a mullet built a botnet in his basement?

This week on MAD Warfare, Shane Morris (see: botnet guy) joins us to break down the brutal mechanics of fame, manipulation, and narrative warfare. Shane helped grow MySpace to a million users, engineered Travis Scott's rise using fake followers and spicy charts, and now advises U.S. defense leaders on information warfare.

From manufactured stardom to meme-driven geopolitics, we're peeling back the fame machine to show how influence really works—and why the comment section might be more dangerous than you think.

Oh, and there's a Claremont Lounge story. Of course there is.

Key Topics

• How Travis Scott's bot army got him Kanye's attention

• Why narratives—not facts—win elections and chart rankings

• The overlap between military psyops and music PR

• Fame as cognitive warfare: how platforms game you

• Why incendiary TikTok comments are modern-day IEDs

Notable Quotes

"Fame isn't just influence. It's a weapon." "The internet runs on lies." "You either master the algorithm—or the algorithm masters you." "Most conspiracies are just people sucking at their jobs and failing upwards." "If you make enough songs, eventually one won't be terrible."

Resources + Links

• The Hive Social Garden — real support in digital times (THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR!)

Follow/Connect with Shane Morris

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanetollmanmorris/

• TikTok: @shanemorrisdotsucks

• Website: shanemorris.sucks

• Spotify: "Shane Morris Sucks" https://open.spotify.com/show/637LUYRKlcMkOhxogqtjPU

WANT TO SUPPORT MAD? Squeeeee. Get in touch with us at [email protected] to get your brand, book, business or brain farts (really, we'll take 'em) featured on our show as a MAD Sponsor. Ask us about our Custom Videos if you're super cool.

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MAD Warfare™️ is hosted by narrative strategist Jocelyn Brady and cognitive neuroscientist Sean Anthony Guillory. Edited and produced by Amine el Filali. Visit our website at madwarfare.com for extra giggles. And send your wishes, weird ideas, dream guests, and (yes it bears repeating) sponsorship inquiries to [email protected].

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FAIR USE: This show is MAD enough to include homages, short clips, and references that provide vital context and/or moments of joy. We DEEPLY respect every creator's work and use these moments purely for educational, artistic, and transformative purposes under Fair Use. If we are missing attributions or you would like to collaborate, please reach out—we're always happy to chat!

Drowning in data? Wondering what's REAL? Let alone what's worth acting on?

Well well well, YOU'RE IN LUCK, dear Mad Stans. Because today's guest is none other than intelligence analysis trainer Jeremy Levin—here to show you how the pros separate signal from noise (and maybe save society while they're at it).

Come for the stories from real military and intel experiences (some are too secret to share 🐿️). Stay for the CRAAP test. Because why wouldn't you.

Key topics:

Information Overload: How the constant bombardment of data can feel overwhelming—and how to train your brain to handle it.

Intelligence Analysis Techniques: How they work and why they might save your next family dinner.

Balancing Instinct & Structure: Learning to trust your gut while rigorously testing hypotheses and countering cognitive biases.

Real-World Insights: Personal anecdotes from military experiences and intelligence training that illustrate high-stakes decision-making.

The Future of Analysis: How modern tech and AI might change ... well... everything?

Resources and Links: • Connect with Jeremy Levin on LinkedIn: / jeremy-levin-training

• Reason Project – IARPA: https://www.iarpa.gov/research-progra... • Psychology of Intelligence Analysis (Richards J. Heuer, Jr.): https://archive.org/details/Psycholog... • Sensemaking (David T. Moore): https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA5... • Fifteen Axioms for Intelligence Analysts (Frank Watanabe): https://www.cia.gov/resources/csi/sta... • Philip E. Tetlock – Superforecasting: https://www.amazon.com/Superforecasti... • CRAAP Test: https://craaptest.net/ • The Applied Critical Thinking Handbook (The Red Team Handbook): https://www.benning.army.mil/CFDP_INS... • The NATO Alternative Analysis Handbook: https://www.act.nato.int/wp-content/u... • Misc. Sources and SATs: https://assets.college.police.uk/s3fs... • The Conspiracy Test: https://theconspiracytest.org/

WANT TO SUPPORT MAD? Squeeeee. Get in touch with us at [email protected] to get your brand, book, business or brain farts (really, we'll take 'em) featured on our show as a MAD Sponsor. Ask us about our Custom Videos if you're super cool.

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MAD Warfare™️ is hosted by narrative strategist Jocelyn Brady and cognitive neuroscientist Sean Anthony Guillory. Edited and produced by Amine el Filali. Visit our website at madwarfare.com for extra giggles. And send your wishes, weird ideas, dream guests, and (yes it bears repeating) sponsorship inquiries to [email protected].

⸻

FAIR USE: This show is MAD enough to include homages, short clips, and references that provide vital context and/or moments of joy. We DEEPLY respect every creator's work and use these moments purely for educational, artistic, and transformative purposes under Fair Use. If we are missing attributions or you would like to collaborate, please reach out—we're always happy to chat!

If you could replicate your own brain, what would you have it do? And if everyone could do it (even your worst nemeses) ... what could POSSIBLY GO WRONG.

Buckle up, because this is when "what if" turns into "what's next." In this episode, Chris Acha—our big brained tiny organoid maestro—takes us on a wild tour inside the fascinating world of brain organoids.

From electrifying brain cells (yes, we mean literally shocking them) to teaching them to play pong, Chris takes us through the mind-blowing tech and science out there with a generous dash of humor. But its not just bio-spider crawling pong playin' scifi robots, these tiny wonders might just be the secret sauce to a smarter, more playful future! Key Topics Discussed: • Neuroscience Miracles: A look at breakthroughs like deep brain stimulation, brain plasticity, and targeted reactivation for enhanced prosthetics. • Brain Organoids Explained: What they are, how they're grown from pluripotent stem cells, and why these miniature neural networks are revolutionizing research. • Micro Integrated Bioelectronics: Chris's work on self-folding microelectrode arrays that capture three-dimensional neural signals from brain organoids. • Learning & AI Potential: The playful experiments from training organoids to play pong to the promise of speech recognition and beyond. • Ethical and Funding Challenges: Reflections on the legacy of Henrietta Lacks, the importance of ethical research, and the urgent need for investment in this transformative field. • Future Horizons: Speculations on how organoid intelligence could reshape computing, medicine, and even national security in the coming years.

Notable Quotes: • "The brain holds about 2.5 petabytes of data – a testament to its incredible efficiency." • "Organoid intelligence might just be the ultimate brainchild of bio-computing, merging biology with technology in ways we're only beginning to imagine."

Resources and Links:

• Connect with Chris Acha on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-acha-1b29b6168/ • Cortical labs: https://corticallabs.com/ • The Dartmouth project on AI: https://home.dartmouth.edu/about/artificial-intelligence-ai-coined-dartmouth • Hebbian Theory: https://neurosciencenews.com/wire-fire-neurons-19835/ • NAE grand challenges for engineering: https://www.engineeringchallenges.org/9109.aspx • John Hopkins Applied Physics Lab: https://www.jhuapl.edu/ • Brain organic reservoir computing for artificial intelligence: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41928-023-01069-w • Embryonic stem cells: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fp5H3SslskQ&t=65s

Connect with Us: • Email: [email protected] • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madwarfare/ • Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MADWarfarePodcast • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madwarfarepodcast/

Sponsor Message: Interested in sponsoring our podcast? Reach out to us at [email protected] for special pricing and unique opportunities to promote your business, book, or message.

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MAD Warfare™️ is hosted by narrative strategist Jocelyn Brady and cognitive neuroscientist Sean Anthony Guillory. Edited and produced by Amine el Filali and recorded by Trent Denson. Visit our website at madwarfare.com for extra giggles. And send your wishes, weird ideas, dream guests, and sponsorship inquiries to [email protected].

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FAIR USE: This show is MAD enough to include homages, short clips, and references that provide vital context and/or moments of joy. We DEEPLY respect every creator's work and use these moments purely for educational, artistic, and transformative purposes under Fair Use. If we are missing attributions or you would like to collaborate, please reach out—we're always happy to chat!

Ready to have your mind blown? In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Nicholson turns the battlefield of conflict into a playground of transformation. She reveals how spiritual experiences can flip the script on warfare and mend our fractured human spirit, all while keeping things intriguingly unexpected. Get ready to uncover the secret sauce behind unconventional healing—diving deep into the hidden dynamics of moral injury, operator syndrome, and AI's unexpected role in our ever-growing loneliness. Spicy!

Key Topics Discussed: • Dr. Rebecca Nicholson's groundbreaking work at the crossroads of spirituality and conflict. • How spiritual experiences can alter the psyche of military personnel and reshape traditional warfare narratives. • The rise of AI in human relationships and its impact on loneliness and grief. • Exploring moral injury and operator syndrome as catalysts for change. • The power of communication and empathy in resolving deep-seated conflicts. • Unconventional healing methods—including spiritual communication—as a remedy for existential crises. • Embracing diverse cultural practices in the journey toward reconciliation and healing.

Cool Quotes: • "In unconventional warfare, you need unconventional healing." • "Ignore the spiritual dimension at your own peril."

Resources and Links: • Dr. Rebecca Nicholson's podcast episode on Arms Dealers, Ancestors, and Trauma Healing: The Traditional Liberian Mourning Feast: https://theconflictdoctor.buzzsprout.com/1825605/episodes/11307793-arms-dealers-ancestors-and-trauma-healing-the-traditional-liberian-mourning-feast • Operator Syndrome by Chris Frueh: https://chrisfrueh.com/operator-syndrome/ • What online offline convergence means for the future of conflict by Sean Guillory: https://information-professionals.org/what-online-offline-convergence-means-for-the-future-of-conflict/ • The cognitive domain is where ghosts are real by Sean Guillory: https://information-professionals.org/the-cognitive-domain-is-where-ghosts-are-real/ • Contact Information: [email protected]

Follow Dr. Rebecca Nicholson: • Dr. Rebecca Nicholson's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/TheConflictDoctor

Connect with Us: • Email: [email protected] • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madwarfare/ • Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MADWarfarePodcast • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madwarfarepodcast/

Sponsor Message:

Interested in sponsoring our podcast? Reach out to us at [email protected] for special pricing and opportunities to promote your business, book, or message.

⸻

MAD Warfare™️ is hosted by narrative strategist Jocelyn Brady and cognitive neuroscientist Sean Anthony Guillory. Produced by Amine el Filali and recorded by Trent Denson. Visit our website at madwarfare.com for extra giggles. And send your wishes, weird ideas, dream guests, and sponsorship inquiries to [email protected]

⸻

FAIR USE: This show is MAD enough to include homages, short clips, and references that provide vital context and/or moments of joy. We DEEPLY respect the work of every creator and use these moments purely for educational, artistic, and transformative purposes under Fair Use. If we are missing attributions or you would like to meld minds, please reach out—we're always happy to chat!

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MAD Warfare™️ is hosted by narrative strategist Jocelyn Brady and cognitive neuroscientist Sean Anthony Guillory.

Visit our website at madwarfare.com for extra giggles. And send your wishes, weird ideas, dream guests and sponsorship inquiries to [email protected]

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FAIR USE:

This show is MAD enough to include homages, short clips and references that provide vital context and/or vital moments of joy. We DEEPLY respect the work of every creator and use these moments purely for educational, artistic and transformative purposes under Fair Use. If we are missing attributions or you would like to meld minds, please reach out—we're always happy to chat!

One of the weird things about war these days: ALL OF US are on the battlefield—even if we didn't realize it.

Didn't sign up for this? We know. War is sneaky like that. But here you are, caught in the fight over what you think, believe and do.

In this first episode of MAD Warfare, we fire our opening salvo of ideas on how to define war, why cognitive warfare is the new frontline, and why we probably need you (YES, you) and a lot of other experts from unexpected places to help the US win this thing.

Hint: Not only will it be televised, it will be streamed, memed, dreamed, screamed, and even beamed into your head. Welcome to how war is fought today! Now let's figure out how to fight back.

This show is MAD enough to include homages, short clips and references that provide vital context and/or vital moments of joy. We DEEPLY respect the work of every creator and use these moments purely for educational, artistic and transformative purposes under Fair Use. If we are missing attributions or you would like to meld minds, please reach out—we're always happy to chat!