Phrost and Jack wade into the skeevy world of AI scams and human trafficking to discuss pig butchering, crypto rip-offs, and how lonely idiots get taken advantage of. They actually cover a lot of ground on this one, from AI-generated stories and images used in social media scams, to sophisticated deepfake and voice cloning scams, plus the deeply troubling rise of human trafficking in scam call centers.

In this episode, Mike Mahaffey, a second-degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, shares his experience in martial arts and his advocacy efforts for communities currently being targeted by hate groups. Also in this episode, Phrost's microphone decides to stop working correctly and his audio sounds like garbage, prompting a disclaimer before the damn episode ever starts.

Griffin Barber is a retired police officer, science fiction and fantasy author, and Editor for Baen Books. He also hosts and produced The Baen Free Radio Hour. We talk about the mind-blowing scale of the 1632 ("Ring of Fire") series in which Griffin has written, up and coming authors, and the role SciFi/Fantasy plays as a tool to sort out our biggest challenges in society.



02:04 Meet Griffin Barber



02:38 The 1632 Series: Time-Traveling West Virginia



03:52 Slogging through the Wheel of Time Series



06:10 Historical Research and Writing Challenges



09:48 Exploring the Mughal Empire and Historical Figures



46:46 The Impact of Social Media on Activism and Isabel Barber's Sociology Paper



49:29 How I Met Griffin: A Funny Story



51:19 Military Leadership and Training Evolution



53:12 Discussing Characters and Themes in 1632 Series



56:23 Old Southern Predator: The Mead Story



01:02:24 Current Projects and Future Plans



01:13:44 The Influence of Science Fiction on Society



01:15:24 Reflections on Authors and Their Works



01:20:57 Closing Thoughts and Future Collaborations



Show Notes and Links



https://www.baen.com



Isabelle Barber's co-authored paper on the effects of student activism



Wikipedia entry on the 1632/Ring of Fire series



Review referenced in the show



Listen here below, or anywhere you weirdos find podcasts



Bullshido · 57 Griffin Barber

BJJ legend Stephan Kesting comes on the show to discuss misinformation and chronicle his adventurous canoe trip through Canada's wilderness. Highlighting issues from medical systems to social media polarization, Stephan emphasizes preparedness, critical thinking, and experiences with nature, including encounters with polar bears and wildfires.



His book, Perseverance: Life and Death in the Subarctic, is available everywhere NOW, including on Amazon and Audible.



Timestamps



00:00 Brandolini's Law and Social Media Rants



04:07 A Journey and a Book: Writing and Publishing



05:26 Health Scare and Kidney Transplant



06:30 Modern Medicine and Big Pharma



07:38 Polarizing Figures in the BJJ Community



08:25 COVID-19 Expertise and Political Stance



16:47 Organ Donation and Personal Stories



19:03 Canadian vs. American Healthcare



21:56 Political Climate and Authoritarianism



24:37 Jordan Peterson and Self-Help Gurus



27:59 Elon Musk and Fascism Allegations



31:41 Parenting and Critical Thinking



33:15 The Role of Hierarchy in Emergency Situations



34:32 Training and Challenges in the Military and Firefighting



38:40 Personal Reflections on Mortality and Life Choices



41:46 Exploring the Canadian Wilderness



46:19 Encounters with Wildlife and Survival Strategies



50:44 The Ethics and Practicalities of Hunting



54:06 Unforeseen Challenges and Problem-Solving



More info:



The Strenuous Life Podcast



GrappleArts.com



Bullshido · 56 Stephan Kesting: Strenuous Living

On this episode of The Art of Fighting BS podcast, Steve Kwan from the BJJ Mental Models podcast discusses the journey and philosophy underlying his role in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world as a coach and podcaster. Steve emphasizes the importance of education beyond just techniques, focusing on human learning, strategy, and the community aspects of martial arts. The conversation addresses broader issues such as the cult-like potential within martial arts communities, the treatment of women in the sport, and the irresponsible spread of misinformation by influential figures.



Steve also shares his pragmatic views on the best fighting strategies, both in competitions and in hypothetical scenarios; and Steve's goals for fostering a supportive and inclusive community within the BJJ Mental Models platform.



Timestamps



00:00 Introduction to Steve Kwan and BJJ Mental Models



01:07 The Value of Jiu-Jitsu Beyond Techniques



02:42 Community and Culture in Jiu-Jitsu



03:56 Addressing Toxicity and Predation in Martial Arts



25:48 The Impact of the Pandemic on Martial Arts



37:19 Conspiracy Theories and Martial Arts



40:51 The Myth of Hollywood Fitness Routines



41:51 Survivorship Bias in Sports



42:55 The Misinformation Pipeline in Jujitsu



43:19 The Rise of Unconventional Health Practices



52:59 The Importance of Safe Training in BJJ



57:30 The Role of Chiropractors and Pseudoscience



01:02:39 Fighting Misinformation in Martial Arts



01:08:13 Final Thoughts and Community Building







Bullshido · 55 Steve Kwan BJJ and BS

Professor Rob Tuck, author of the Critical Ninja Theory substack, comes on the pod and discusses his curious road from specializing in Japanese literature to becoming an expert on the historical and mythical ninja. He discusses how his academic background and research led him to debunk many popular misconceptions about ninjas, highlighting the distinction between historical 'shinobi' and the fictional 'ninjas' popularized by media. With insights into his research process and experiences in academia, Rob underscores the importance of critical literacy in understanding Japanese history. He also delves into amusing aspects of ninja fiction and its cultural impact, making the conversation both enlightening and entertaining.



00:00 Introduction and Background



00:27 Discovering the Ninja



00:55 Research and Collection



02:29 Support and Academic Journey



05:20 Critical Ninja Theory



11:20 Real History vs. Fiction



17:16 Ninja in Popular Culture



21:47 Misconceptions and Realities



35:12 The Flexibility of the Ninja Concept



35:45 Western Influence on Ninja Weapons



37:15 Japanese Perception of Ninja



39:25 Ninja in Western Media



41:48 The Fascination with Ninja and Martial Arts



45:17 Anime and Japanese History



54:49 The Evolution of Ninjutsu



57:58 Conclusion and Final Thoughts



Media mentioned in the show











Resources and More



https://criticalninjatheory.substack.com



Bullshido · 54 Critical Ninja Theory with Prof. Rob Tuck

In this episode, philosopher Aaron Rabinowitz, PhD., from the 'Embrace the Void' and 'Philosophers in Space' podcasts, joins the discussion to delve into the nuances of Taiji (Tai Chi), masculinity, martial arts in general, and the philosophy of moral luck. Aaron talks about the importance of healthy masculinity in the context of martial arts, the philosophical concept of luck and how it challenges traditional notions of free will and responsibility. He further discusses his experiences with Tai Chi (Taiji), the value of different martial arts styles, the just world illusion, and the Creator Accountability Network.



Timestamps:



00:00 Introduction



00:38 Healthy Masculinity and Political Directions



01:54 Martial Arts and Masculinity



04:52 Aaron's Martial Arts Journey



06:48 Understanding Taiji



28:40 The Philosophy of Luck



47:31 The Just World Illusion and the illusion of Deservingness



48:39 Hardwired for Fairness



50:20 Social Dominance and Masculinity



51:12 Privilege and Luck



54:38 Restorative Justice and Criminal Reform



56:30 Community and Cancel Culture



01:08:41 Masculinity and Virtue



01:14:45 Final Thoughts and Recommendations



Aaron's Taiji instructor can be found at:https://members.molingtaiji.com/index.php



The Embrace the Void, and Philosophers in Space podcast can be found on all major podcasting platforms, and at the links below:https://www.voidpod.com/



https://0gphilosophy.libsyn.com

Dr. Jason Goldsmith from The Immunology Podcast comes on to discuss the looming appointments to federal agencies overseeing the American healthcare system including Dr. Mehmet Oz, and RFK Jr.—and all the fallout we should expect from the upcoming changes.



Listen to the episode below (like a weirdo), or on your favorite podcasting platform (as long as it's Apple Podcasts or Spotify, we have no idea where you're getting this from otherwise).



Bullshido · 52 The Wonderful Land of Oz

With how social media is these days, it almost seems reasonable to assume that anyone who demonstrates a lack of social skills and/or a fixation on edgelord, meme culture is on the spectrum. And in a culture where so many young males are being raised by the internet rather than strong men in their actual lives—and everything that results from that—the issue can get even more confused.



In this episode, Jack talks to Phrost about his experience working with actual autistic people, the particulars of the condition, and their place in our society, while Phrost goes into the history of the term "Weaponized Autism", and the ways in which young men are victimized by our culture, then weaponized by the worst actors in our culture—against their own best interests.



Then, as always, the show goes off the rails. Enjoy.



Listen below or subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, etc. Don't forget to leave a comment and a rating. (A good one, MF.)



Bullshido · 51 "Weaponized Autism vs. Actual autism

For our 50th episode, we invited a few people to join in live and help us rank a set of popular conspiracy theories on their threat value to society brought by people who sincerely believe in them.Jack and Phrost cover such examples as:




* Vaccines causing autism/etc.



* 9/11 Inside Job



* Extra Terrestrials



* Epstein Didn't Kill Himself



* Holocaust Denial



* Moon Landing Faked



* Flat Earth



* Qanon



* "Plandemic"/Covid conspiracies



* New World Order/Illuminati



* Kennedy Assassination



* AIDS Denialism



* "Birds Aren't Real"




And more.



Episode 50 is available in audio form just about everywhere you weirdos listen to podcasts (Spotify, iTunes, etc.). Patrons and upgraded/supporting members can watch the full, unedited video in our Contributor's Lounge on the Forums and on Patreon.com/Bullshido.




https://youtu.be/EkjSGPKG6w0?si=W7l-KgXMLKgZhZUE

If you have an internet connection (which you do, otherwise you're reading this in the far future via gravitational waves or sophons or something), you're probably aware that a significant portion of any fandom is wet garbage on a hot day—and we're not just describing the smell at your local convention. And as we've been pointing out for the past several decades here on Bullshido, where there are sad, pathetic losers, there are the people who make their livelihoods preying on them by validating their garbage opinions. No bro, it's not your fault nobody invites you to the panel discussion, "they" are out to get you.



In this episode, Phrost and Jack discuss a few examples of these people, such as "The Critical Drinker", explain the history of the weaponization and monitization of nerds, incels, and related losers, and try not to cut back on the profanity... and fail at that, and then fail at bleeping it out in the audio, because fuck it.

This may be the most overtly political episode of the show, so feel free to skip it if that's not your thing. If it is, LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE. 5 STARS. FOR JUSTICE or whatever.



In this episode, we cover:




* The attempted assassination of former President Trump and associated law enforcement/security failures



* The susceptibility of the American public to hero narratives



* Just how stupid the "sport" of two dudes slapping each other is



* Phrost predicts Biden will drop out "within 72 hours" (which he did)



* Cancel culture, and the revival of 20+ year old Bullshido forums threads



* Jack keeps Phrost from getting himself canceled by bringing up the "hard-R" and being wildly wrong about it.




This wasn't supposed to be an actual podcast episode, but we decided to release it anyway because it's been a week. As we're typing this, it just won't stop. We don't even want to talk about politics this overtly, but damn...



Full video available for contributing members on the forums and patrons on Patreon.https://www.patreon.com/posts/episode-48-raw-108593334?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Not exactly a deep dive, kind of shallow... just the tip, really.



In this episode, Phrost and Jack do a short dive into the "Manosphere" —the corner of the internet that targets emotionally vulnerable dudes (mostly younger), and exploits that vulnerability to sell them garbage supplements, "how to get a date" programs, and much worse.



Show Notes



Notable, if not noteworthy people mentioned in this podcast include:




* Leeja Miller



* Andrew Tate



* Sneako



* Nick Fuentes



* Aiden Ross




Also, in this episode you might notice Phrost or Jack reference "Drake", who was in fact not the (alleged) groomer/Canadian hip hop star, but actually Drake_2112, one of our Twitch subscribers hanging out with us while we recorded the epsiode—which we do live, on Thursdays, semi-weekly, on Twitch.tv/Bullshido.



Video of the show available to subscribers on Twitch, supporters on Patreon, or contributing members on our forums right here. Audio version available on nearly all platforms.

On this episode of The Art of Fighting BS Podcast, Steve Mix and Phrost discuss an overview of how disinformation works and how to counter it, then the discussion goes completely off the rails and ends up about the origins of the "warrior cop" mentality and how much law enforcement sucks as a career. Also, violent terrorist acorns.



Listen here, or anywhere you get your podcast episodes, via iTunes, Spotify, SoundCloud, actual clouds, or the 5g reception from your latest Covid booster shot. And subscribe to our Patreon here to get the raw episodes on the same night they're recorded!



Bullshido · 46 - Disinformation, Soldiers vs. Cops. vs. Acorns







And here's the video referenced in the podcast:




https://youtu.be/LmUphvIxIig

Steve Mix joins Phrost and recounts his experiences on the darker side of the Internet, the differences between police and soldiers, and art.



Listen here below, or subscribe to The Art of Fighting BS podcast on iTunes, Spotify, or Google Podcasts.



Bullshido · 45 Messages From the Dark Web

Gabe Pearlman is a BJJ Black Belt under one of the first Americans to receive a black belt in the sport, Tim Burrill. We discuss the role training in a full contact style plays in having a meaningful life at all ages, the differences between BJJ gyms, and the value of a BS-free training experience.



Gabe's school is located in Austin, Texas, and he can be found at ShieldBJJ.net and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/shieldbjjatx/



Listen below or on Spotify, iTunes, and Google Podcasts. Don't forget to leave a review!

Of all the podcasts we've done, this one definitely went the furthest off the rails. Dr. Jason Goldsmith (MD, PhD) and attorney Dante Bradley, join us to discuss the massive drama and BS in the... *checks notes* world of Dungeons and Dragons.



For those of you who haven't heard about D&D since the 80's, the game has grown in popularity to ridiculous levels in the past decade with hundreds of podcasts, several live streams like Critical Role with millions of weekly followers, pop culture references in shows like Stranger Things, and a big budget movie staring Chris Pine. In the middle of all this, the parent companies that makes the official game, Wizards of the Coast (owned by Hasbro), attempted to milk that cash cow a bit too hard, triggering the biggest nerd meltdown since Gamergate.



This meltdown and the reasons behind it are what we actually do discuss for the first part of this episode before derailing into the latest on the subject of vaccines, boosters, pandemics, and the endless BS coming from every direction on that topic as well, because we fuckin' do what we want around here.



Host:




* Phrost: @Phrost




Guests:




* Dr. Jason Goldsmith (MD, PhD, WRX STi) @SifuJason



* Attorney Dante Bradley




Links:



Washington Post: The OGL Controversy Explained



Listen here below or look for The Art of Fighting BS podcast wherever you find podcasts (iTunes, Google, Spotify, etc.) Full, unedited video available to VIP members or Patreon supporters



Episode:



Bullshido · 43 Dungeons and Dragons and Viruses

Matt Thornton of the Straight Blast Gym is an icon in the martial arts world, and in particular, has been beating the drum about functional training even longer than we have. In this conversation we discuss violence, how it is an unavoidable part of the human experience, and how to ensure good men are better at it than bad.



His book, The Gift of Violence, is available for pre-order now on Amazon and releases on April 11th. Get the book here: https://amzn.to/3ZvU6JU Follow Matt on Twitter at @aliveness_ape and his gym at https://www.straightblastgym.com.



Listen here below or on any of the major podcasting platforms including iTunes, Spotify, and more, and don't forget to leave us a 5-star review.




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5peabeT2-I

Ever dream about just saying "F it" and going to train an obscure martial art in a foreign country? Alyxe Khei did, and then lived that dream. He joins us on this episode of The Art of Fighting BS podcast to discuss tips and advice for people who want to visit exotic places and get punched by the people who live there, and we delve into the real history of Martial Arts and how ethno-nationalism looms over virtually every one of them.



Show Notes



* Alyxe can be found on TikTok at cobaltinferno, Instagram as alyxekhei. * The website he uses for finding training camps* Podcast referenced: Paul Bowman's Martial Arts Studies Podcast



Watch here below or listen on your favorite podcasting platform, or your least-favorite one, whatever, we're not your dad.








https://youtu.be/9HRTg64N-_k

Should you get the new bivalent booster? After all the back and forth between public health officials and social media influencer/grifter cranks, you'd think this would be a simple answer. Unfortunately, data isn't simple, people are. Dr. Jason Goldsmith returns to the podcast to provide the latest, BS-free information on the subject. As always, vaccinate yourselves and your loved ones, but the human predisposition to turn everything into an us-vs-them tribalist hellscape of competing narratives almost always lays waste to the facts on every side of an issue.



In this episode



* Update on the pandemic* Who should get the vaccine (everyone)? But who should get the latest booster?* Shoutout to Matt and Chris from Decoding the Gurus* Who Dr. Goldsmith would fight in a MMA match* And more...



Watch the video below or listen on your favorite podcasting platform



(It doesn't have to be your "favorite", but whatever.)








https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZaxOxQa7ys