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Ep 83 - we all knew about Nordstream
In this episode we dive into the recent “revelations” by the Washington Post confirming what so many of us already knew - the United States had direct knowledge of the Nordstream attack last year months before it occurred.
While reading the piece we will analyze the form these kinds of stories take. After all - in order to maintain credibility press outlets do eventually need to report on the facts. The key word being “eventually” this is another great example of “narrative discipline” in action. They allow for the facts of something to be incorporated to the news cycle, and create enough plausible deniability to justify the original false propaganda.
After that we change gears and read my latest original mindset piece about being stuck in a rut.
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DeSantis says NO & other stories - Ep 82
This is going to be a little different format for an episode. I've been putting together shorter video segments and releasing them exclusively on substack.
This episode will have those videos after we go over a recent piece I wrote at BeenAwake.com that discusses a proposed "blogger registry" in Florida. If you're a premium subscriber you can access the transcripts!
To find L.B. On your favorite social platforms visit BeenAwake.com
Notes:
Article: Not Shocking: DeSantis won't support blogger registry
Video: Spy Balloon: 1 Joe Biden: 0
Video: Why Matt Walsh is right about Dylan Mulvaney [premium]
Video: Analysis: El Salvador opens a mega-prison
Glenn Beck Interviews Ron DeSantis
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World War III, for as long as it takes - EP 81
In this episode, we discuss the implications of the war in Ukraine for the future of geopolitics by looking at recent speeches given by President Joe Biden and President Vladimir Putin. I put together a super cut of each should you be interested in watching those by your self, premium subscribers will have access to them by the end of the week.
Both Presidents claimed their war was not with the people of either country, but if Democracy is truly at stake, or the Russian way of life is truly in peril - why not escalate further? I think we all knew this conflict wouldn’t end quickly - now we know the Biden Administration will choose to extend it through his Presidency. Who breaks first is anybody’s guess - after all it’s out of our control.
Transcript: Biden’s speech
Transcript: Putin’s speech
Video: Biden’s full speech
Video: Putin’s full speech
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YOUTUBE VIDEO
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#80 - Are you down with the cause?
In Episode 80, we explore two stories from the recent news cycle. The Killing of Tyre Nichols, and the dust up between The Daily Wire and Steven Crowder. One is a story of tragedy creating new narratives where blacks can be racist against blacks because of white supremacy. The other is a story of the tension between business and belief. What connects them? Tune in to find out!
Subscribe and Support the project at beenawake.com
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[Clip] How Silicon Valley got Woke
In this clip, while discussing the financial, political, moral, and spiritual implications of DEI initiatives and ESG scores within the corporate system. I tell the story of how Silicon Valley got Woke.
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[Clip] Individualism vs Collectivism DESTROYED
I joined the boys from 2bit Podcast and other new friends for a “Dissident Roundtable” a free-wheeling discussion about better ways to understand our political climate and presuppositions about society and politics. During a seemingly common disagreement about whether “individualism” exists I explained how we started having the argument in the first place - mostly thanks to a philosopher named Hegel and this thing called a dialectic.
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Ep 78 - LIVE! HONEST! Reaction to Joe Biden's "Soul of the Nation" Speech
For this episode there are no notes. I’m going to going to watch Joe Biden's recent prime time address "on the Continued Battle for the Soul of the Nation" for the first time and give my honest unfiltered live reaction.
By now you've seen the memes, I know I have. Memes are great for an impression, but this show is about diving deeper. Together we’ll walk through the speech and contend with the imagery and speculate as to its place in history.
In other words? Some good old fashioned better sensemaking.
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Ep 77 - A world without orgies
Get a college level buzz for a street performance price, become a premium subscriber
Welcome back to your new favorite weekly news show that doesn’t always talk about the news.
Here’s our first story - WHY DO THEY HATE LANA DEL RAY'S NEW BEAU?
Squishy puff pieces about celebrities can tell us more about the subtleties of human nature, media manipulation, and cultural trends than one might imagine. While a story like this could be considered “trashy” there were a few things about it that stuck out to me. Chief among them that this dealt with the Midwestern aesthetic, and how they spin the story to fit closely along the modern left-wing cultural signals
Lana Del Rey’s Perfectly Ambiguous New Boyfriend Is Extremely On-Brand
MEL magazine is original source
Second story - JOE BIDEN STOPS INFLATION!
We’ll shift gears for our second story, analyzing recent developments in the biden administration and how none of it will help with the inflationary times we live in, no matter what they name the bill. We’ll also spend a little time looking at two videos released by the biden administration recently that show the disparity in The President’s performative prowess
five times august tweet and video
Original speech on gas prices july 26
Original speech cop insurrection july 26
Vox How Democrats plan to overhaul taxes, climate spending, and health care before the midterms
Third story - REPUBLICANCS CHEER FOR THE RECESSION
Depending on who you ask, we’re in a recession. I want to spend a little time talking about the political ramifications of inflationary times and prognosticate on the future health of our economy and polity.
cnn So are we in a recession, or not?
Fourth Story - THE INFITITE GENDER SPECTRUM, NOW FOR KIDS!
If you think the economic outlook is bleak, wait until we cover Christopher Rufo’s latest scoop. The scale of left-wing indoctrination in schooling has reached a new high. The most radical political left-wingers today are those who accept things like queerness, D.E.I policy, and broader progressive doctrine that is indistinguishable from a dogmatic religion in practice. It is at the center of why I feel political recalibration is so necessary
Chris Rufo Tweet thread
In Portland, the Sexual Revolution Starts in Kindergarten
Fifth and last Story - HOW DO WE STOP THE MONKEYPOX?
Our last story will revolve around a recent verbal exchange on the Fox Business Network’s show Kennedy. I found it to be a very interesting cross section of cultural taboos as it relates to current events. Unfortunately for the “totally based” Brad Polumbo, Ned Ryun didn’t use bigotry as the root for his commentary.
Video of exchange on Kennedy
Google: CONFIRMED MONKEYPOX CASES
WHO recommends gay and bisexual men limit sexual partners to reduce the spread of monkeypox
Monkeypox outbreak linked to Canary Island and Spanish sex parties
Heterosexual HIV diagnoses overtake those in gay men for first time in a decade
USA HIV STATISTICS
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Ep 76 - Who wins in a Democracy?
I’m fond of saying a good question is better than a great answer. The title of today’s episode is that kind of question, and the path we’re going to take for answers is one you don’t want to miss.
HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND PITBULLS
The first story from the New York Post today talks about a woman who’s Pitbull puppy “mysteriously” attacked her and a friend. Turns out when you read the article, while tragic - the warning signs were there. With this piece I want to focus in on the “form” of how news articles are written, and how when you look closely enough you notice small contradictions that make a huge contextual difference.
I slept with my beloved pit bull — until he tried to eat me alive
WHAT’S GOING ON SRI LANKA?
The second story we’re going to cover is the recent turmoil in Sri Lanka, what the fallout has been, and how it signals what we can expect in larger more established countries.
Video: Storming the Sri Lankan Capital
Video: President of Sri Lanka escaping
Explained: Sri Lanka’s new Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, and his India connect
Ranil Wickremesinghe, a wily political survivor, elected Sri Lanka’s president
ARE THE BAD GUYS ANTI-FRAGILE?
The topic of Sri Lanka will lead us very well into a segment questioning whether the bad guys are anti-fragile or not. This was inspired by my recent appearance on Kingpilled where Matt Erickson and I went over a piece that discussed (you guessed it) “post libertarians” part of the feedback we received was criticism for how we characterize “The Cathedral” as being anti-fragile. We’ll explore the concept and ask ourselves the hard questions about what kind of “change” is really possible.
Appearance on Kingpilled
Piece covered
Cathedral defined
ABORTION & SCHOOL SHOOTINGS AS CULTURAL PHENONMENON
From discussing anti-fragility, we will move to looking at abortion and school shootings as cultural phenomenon. We will discuss recent events and put them in a context that reframes their significance. This will take us to my concept of “The Cult of American Democracy” where we will answer the question we started with, who wins in a democracy?
Uvalde timeline
Indianapolis shooting stopped
There Have Been 13 Mass School Shootings Since 1966, Not 27 This Year
Video: French Protesting Roe vs Wade Overturn
Example of expanding definition of abortion
THE CULT OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY
Want even more sensemaking? Go to beenawake.com/appearances to catch me on other shows and streams.
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Ep 76 - Who wins in a Democracy?
I’m fond of saying a good question is better than a great answer. The title of today’s episode is that kind of question, and the path we’re going to take for answers is one you don’t want to miss.
HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND PITBULLS
The first story from the New York Post today talks about a woman who’s Pitbull puppy “mysteriously” attacked her and a friend. Turns out when you read the article, while tragic - the warning signs were there. With this piece I want to focus in on the “form” of how news articles are written, and how when you look closely enough you notice small contradictions that make a huge contextual difference.
I slept with my beloved pit bull — until he tried to eat me alive
WHAT’S GOING ON SRI LANKA?
The second story we’re going to cover is the recent turmoil in Sri Lanka, what the fallout has been, and how it signals what we can expect in larger more established countries.
Video: Storming the Sri Lankan Capital
Video: President of Sri Lanka escaping
Explained: Sri Lanka’s new Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, and his India connect
Ranil Wickremesinghe, a wily political survivor, elected Sri Lanka’s president
ARE THE BAD GUYS ANTI-FRAGILE?
The topic of Sri Lanka will lead us very well into a segment questioning whether the bad guys are anti-fragile or not. This was inspired by my recent appearance on Kingpilled where Matt Erickson and I went over a piece that discussed (you guessed it) “post libertarians” part of the feedback we received was criticism for how we characterize “The Cathedral” as being anti-fragile. We’ll explore the concept and ask ourselves the hard questions about what kind of “change” is really possible.
Appearance on Kingpilled
Piece covered
Cathedral defined
ABORTION & SCHOOL SHOOTINGS AS CULTURAL PHENONMENON
From discussing anti-fragility, we will move to looking at abortion and school shootings as cultural phenomenon. We will discuss recent events and put them in a context that reframes their significance. This will take us to my concept of “The Cult of American Democracy” where we will answer the question we started with, who wins in a democracy?
Uvalde timeline
Indianapolis shooting stopped
There Have Been 13 Mass School Shootings Since 1966, Not 27 This Year
Video: French Protesting Roe vs Wade Overturn
Example of expanding definition of abortion
THE CULT OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY
Want even more sensemaking? Go to beenawake.com/appearances to catch me on other shows and streams.
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Ep 75 - Baby shortages and straw men
Back with a brand new episode of Been Awake with L.B.
Today we're going to be covering 3 major headlines in the American news cycle
1 - Baby formula shortages plaguing the nation!
2 - Mass Shootings, this time they're racist!
3 - How to NOT defend the straw man
I know what you're thinking, number 3 isn't a major headline. This is true, but you won't want to miss the exploration of how to properly understand your own opinion and see how easily it can be influenced by media and those with Authority. It's the kind of better sensemaking you can't get anywhere else.
If you liked the episode consider sharing it with a friend and becoming a patron (get your first year 50% at beenawake.com/subscribe)
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Ep 74 - Elon Musk, Ukraine, and Abortion
Back with a brand new episode of Been Awake with L.B.
Today we're going to be covering 3 major headlines in the American news cycle
1 - The United States Government all but declares war with Russia by funding the Ukrainian government
2 - Billionaire Elon Musk says he's committed to buying Twitter and returning it to a "free speech" platform
3 - An unprecedented leak from the Supreme Court of the United States signals the end of Roe vs Wade and federal protections on abortion
What do all these stories have in common? Tune in to find out! and subscribe at beenawake.com for all the latest in better sensemaking
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Ep 74 - The Culture Wars: Escalation
Normally my process for podcasting is write first, talk second. Not tonight. I have a lot of swirling thoughts about the recent escalation in the Culture Wars. Before we get to that however, I’ll answer what creates a culture war, and more importantly why it’s foolish to ignore them. To pretend that the recent skirmishes between Disney and the Florida Government are “beside the point” for human freedom is to indulge in the kind of rhetoric that keeps you from better sensemaking.
What’s even more important than understanding that there is a “culture war” is knowing who the real enemy is. As I recently wrote, war is hell for all but the few. Generals across time have made their names on the backs of nameless dead.
Can better sensemaking limit the Carnage? Only if you share the show.
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Ep 73 - The Post-Libertarian Moment Prescription
This week on the show we will be covering the last few sections of my essay "The post-libertarian moment defined.” Personally this will mark a change in the focus of my content. I'm happy to still go on other shows and talk about the essay, but what I have realized since I wrote the essay is that I need to be looking and talking to people about what is next. While the essay was directed towards libertarians and deals with whether the LP is a viable vehicle for political change, there are larger principles we can draw from and apply to a broader population. To those who have come aboard over the last few months thanks for giving a small newsletter like mine a chance, let's spread this message of better sensemaking across the country!
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Ep 72 - Raging about Ukraine?
Welcome to the show. Today’s episode will mostly deal with geopolitics and Ukraine. If you’re waiting for the culmination of ‘The Post Libertarian Moment defined” I will cover the last 3 sections of the essay in a separate episode. Before we get too far into things, if you’re reading this, make sure you’ve checked out Substack’s new app for iPhone.
After much consideration I’ve decided to keep Substack my online “home” for another year. While I appreciate my readers and listeners, when you become a Patron, you make it easier for me to dedicate my time doing the thing I love, making sense of the world just for you.
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ep 71 from quarks to Consciousness w/ Josiah
Hey, welcome to the show
*programming note*
You’ll notice there isn’t a snappy intro to this video like prior interviews. I really enjoy making them, but I can’t fit it into my production time anymore. There are too many things I want to cover! So from now on I’ll open interviews solo and bring the guest in (like every other podcast you listen to).
I haven’t released a solo episode, but I’ve recently sat down with a few other podcasters you should definitely check them out.
Currently available are my recent appearances on Blackbird with James Jenneman, On The Run with Remso Martinez, and Counterflow with Buck Johnson. Soon to be released is an interview with Carlos Abelar’s show Los Libertinos back to today’s conversation.
I recently sat down with Josiah who goes by @sodokupolitburo on Twitter. One of the reasons I started a podcast was to explore ideas, how people think fascinates me, especially when someone comes at it from an unorthodox place.
I don’t think I do a disservice Josiah when I say he has incredible instincts for how systems come together, but how he gets there won’t be familiar to most people.
This is an interview you’ll want to listen to closely.
The beginning of the conversation is a download of Josiah’s perspective, you’ll hear me try to put the pieces together, acting as a “midwife of ideas” as Socrates was fond of saying. And we end as always somewhere interesting.
This is the philosophy part of the news, mindset, and philosophy I cover at BeenAwake.com
If you enjoy conversations like this, make sure you’re subscribed to the substack with your email, subscribe on itunes or wherever you get podcasts from, there’s also video versions of the show available on YouTube and Rumble For free!
If you think the content I produce has value, become a premium subscriber and help me spread the mission of better sensemaking
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Ep 70 - Moral narratives and political theater
Today’s episode will be a twitter sandwich, we’ll start with some rapid fire tweets I sent out since the last episode and end with some more. In the middle will be a discussion from my essay “The Post-Libertarian Moment Defined” where I’ll discuss what it is and why it happened. Most importantly though, we’re going to be examining the recent exchange between Dr. Anthony Fauci and Senator Dr. Rand Paul during a Senate committee hearing. There’s an important unexplored angle to the exchange other podcasters aren’t covering.
Honestly the show could end up being completely different than that. I’ve started writing my descriptions before I do the episode. Just another reason to listen and see what we talk about!
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