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PODCAST

The Toddzilla X-Pod

A blunt, unsentimental dive into propaganda, ideology, and the contemporary cult of belief. Host Todd Thompson dissects how both corporate and collectivist power structures manipulate guilt, fear, and identity to keep the herd in line. From Ellul and Chomsky to Didion and Camus, the show fuses political philosophy, field experience, and gallows humor to expose how revolutions become religions, and how “progress” often hides new forms of control. The X-Pod is an autopsy of the narratives that shape

society & culture social sciences

All Episodes

01:17:43

#137 - Rumination Nation: The Therapy Trap

The Toddzilla X-Pod ·

2024/06/11

Welcome to episode 137 of "Escaping the Cave," hosted by the ever-lovable Toddzilla. In this episode, Todd delves into the impact of modern psychotherapy on today's youth, referencing Abigail Shrier's eye-opening book, Bad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren't Growing Up. Recorded on June 11th, 2024, Todd explores how therapeutic practices may inadvertently harm rather than heal, creating a generation unprepared for life's challenges.Todd also shares his admiration for Bill Maher's ability to call out his

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01:14:21

#136 - Tribalism, Censorship or Free Speech,...

The Toddzilla X-Pod ·

2024/05/30

Welcome to episode 136 of Escaping the Cave, hosted by the "ever-congenial" Todd. In this episode, Todd delves into the chaotic landscape of censorship and modern information warfare.After a brief update on recent personal events, Todd transitions into a deep discussion about the impact of rapid information dissemination on society, drawing parallels with the current conflict in Gaza and domestic issues. He reflects on the tribalism inherent in human nature, referencing the famous "Eagles &

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55:03

#135 - On "Genocide", Our Political Show Trial, Toxic...

The Toddzilla X-Pod ·

2024/05/20

This episode touches on the Stormy Daniels show trial, the Democrat's cowardly online convention strategy, falling for the barbaric propaganda-driven strategy of using of human shields in Gaza, and maliciously labeling Israel's retaliation as genocide. Has Dementia Joe's forgotten who he is? Does he know whose side he's on? At what point does endless activism trigger apathy and begin having a retrograde effect on public sympathy? Want to escape an abstract utopian worldview? Live in Chicago for a

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58:26

#134 - The Men Who Go

The Toddzilla X-Pod ·

2024/05/06

It took 65-years to get from Kittyhawk to the moon. 55-years later, we still have gone no further. That's ridiculous! Exploration is, and always has been, humanity at its authentic best. The bleeding hearts and homebody naysayers don't matter. Mars is this millennium's New World and we'll go because we always go, eventually. It's engrained into the DNA and it's our duty, especially if you believe there's a climate crisis. Like it? Share it! More:

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55:48

#133 - Proselytes & Militants Revisited:...

The Toddzilla X-Pod ·

2024/05/03

A followup to the last episode. After watching our indoctrinated sleeper cells come to life, it's a good time to revisit Ellul's book, Propaganda, and put it thru the filter of the last few weeks. Notes from 2019: Ellul's ideas on pre-propaganda, propaganda's conditioned reflexes, myths, and "orthopraxy". Including the triggering of active and passive action (activists, influencers, collaborators), widespread participation by "committed" zealots, the separation between thought and action,

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48:13

#132 -Joe da Wabbit Hunter, Wokentology's Westboro...

The Toddzilla X-Pod ·

2024/04/30

Biden's dismal poll numbers confirm it: a pwesident hunting two wabbits catches neither. Plus, Dementia Joe gets conquered by his own teleprompter begging the question: who's in charge over there? Also: When defective self-esteem pseudoscience collides with social eugenics The Indoctrinated come of age When a President kneels before the Dearborn Caliphate. Look for a follow up episode soon. Like it? Share it! More:

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01:11:58

#131 - Mao's Grandkids vs. The Sun Tzu of Propaganda

The Toddzilla X-Pod ·

2024/04/23

Strange times indeed. This week, Todd delves back into the fundamental conflict between fighting propaganda and our basic human nature ; when it comes to informational warfare, reason is NOT a factor, and the man who believes it is goes to battle unarmed. There may be three realistic options. He also explores Chris Rufo's theory about how Mao's Long March influenced Marxist strategy, led to systematic social eugenics, and eventually the institutional takeover now represented by this new artificial

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01:33:58

#130 - Hamasholes, Jefferson's Coat, Democracy vs....

The Toddzilla X-Pod ·

2024/04/17

In another uplifting and cheerfully optimistic episode, Todd cracks the seal on October 7th. Specifically, our domestic "death to America" Hamas supporters - roadway terrorists - useful idiots, and why Israel is not only justified, but obligated, to eliminate Hamas at any cost, including to Joe Biden's bunny-chasing campaign. Using borrowed audio from Joe Rogan's viral April 3 episode, Coleman Hughes perfectly articulates why that's so and also why Hamas is willing to use its own people as human

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01:05:33

#129 - The Bastard A's, AJ's Ruminations, Death's...

The Toddzilla X-Pod ·

2024/04/08

Unfortunately, last week's obnoxious AI generated show notes didn't make the cut, but AJ Soprano did! After a seemingly random tangent about the pathetic state of the Oakland A's, Todd dives into how The Sopranos, specifically AJ, was ahead of its time regarding the connection between obsessive media rumination, a naive messiah complex, and depression. Ask your shrink if a regular dose of gratitude is right for you. It often works for the terminally ill. Also, a change is coming to the podcast

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01:44:55

#128 - Data Overload, Our Storytelling Paradox, The...

The Toddzilla X-Pod ·

2024/04/02

I'm back after a 7-month tour of Africa, Gaza, and the Orient. That might be a lie. Click to find out for sure! NOTE: The show notes were AI generated by my podcast host. I left them intact for the chuckles! The "chapters" are also courtesy of AI. Rely on them at your own risk! Enjoy and thanks for listening! -- "In this exhilarating episode of "Escaping the Cave," host Todd navigates through the world of social media anarchy and its repercussions on society. Explore the delicate balance between

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01:03:31

#127 - The Power of Patriotism, Cannibal Leftists,...

The Toddzilla X-Pod ·

2023/08/29

Orwell wrote that international socialism is powerless against the power of simple patriotism. It's a simple concept that radicalized leftists are helpless to understand. Before the secular Cult of Wokentology can erect American temples, patriotism must be crippled. This is why basic American pride has been under systematic agitprop attack for decades. Traveling the third world: Todd articulates how, rather than creating another liberal "global citizen", it instead ignited his steadily building, and

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53:03

#126 - On Tribalism: Unity Via Division, Vichy...

The Toddzilla X-Pod ·

2023/08/23

As with propaganda, Todd's thoughts on tribalism have evolved in the last 9-years. It's a trait, not a defect. Evolution burrowed tribalism deep into the human psyche for a reason and it's going nowhere. That makes it a potent force that needs to be more clearly understood.Segment 1: Sebastian Junger and his book Tribe Tribalism and social evolution The doe eyed folly of "anti-tribalism" splinter factions Unity Via Division, huh? Go home, you're drunk The Fantastical Cult of Utopian Diversity: do

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13:32

#125 - Institutional Hospice & The Death of 9/12

The Toddzilla X-Pod ·

2023/08/21

In this short episode, Todd discusses the near complete loss of trust in American institutions, particularly the media, and the result: informational anarchy. What filth is left free to slither into the trust vacuum? Like it? Subscribe then share it! https://toddzillax.substack.com https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjdLR140l--HufeRSAnj91A

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28:45

#124 - Where’s Rock Bottom? Killing The Come Together...

The Toddzilla X-Pod ·

2023/08/15

Starting with a discussion about painfully reaching rock bottom and its role in addiction and recovery, Todd applies it to the dopamine drip of technology-driven tribal politics and how he and others wrongly assumed Donald was the tribal floor. (13:52) The Left's application of Newton's Third Law of Extremism: the Green Tea Party and how, with the media's deification of The Holy Counterfeiter, it mutated into an invasive Ideological Insurgency using scapegoats to aggressively attack American

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44:56

#123 - Inappropriate Honesty, Truth Riders, That...

The Toddzilla X-Pod ·

2023/08/09

In the continuation of the last episode, Todd re-explores his oft-ignored Path to Empathy, the DIKW pyramid, and data Overload before exploring religion's real purpose and offering our pompous atheist friends the back of his rhetorical hand. From that joyful and uplifting summit, he moves on to question how woke parents can sacrifice their own children to a foreign ideological god. Also: Introducing The Desert of the Why! We know what legislative riders are. What about "truth" riders? The one

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49:59

#122 - Intellectual Tribalism & Gladiators in the...

The Toddzilla X-Pod ·

2023/08/07

After a brief introduction to metacognition, Todd delves back into how people are born as storytellers, not rational truth seekers, and how the storytelling ape probably evolved out of a need for simple explanation and meaning. Also, why are experts in detecting the "enemy's" bullish*t but so bad at sniffing out our own team's? After reflecting on the Facebook Wars, have we become organic pieces of agitation propaganda ourselves? Worse, can innate tribalism be exploited by agitprop-fueled hatred

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43:05

#121 - The Authoritarian Mind #2: Puritanism vs The...

The Toddzilla X-Pod ·

2023/08/02

Mr. Sunshine delivers another cheerful monologue on our deep and persistent strain of authoritarian thought! Book those children's parties now! Subtopics: America's puritanical tradition began on the Mayflower. Why totalitarian cultural eugenics might do more harm than "good." Agitprop and authoritarianism are conjoined twins. Can a true Democracy even defend itself? The generational tyranny of tradition; each new generation has the right to rule itself free from the yoke of their dead ancestors

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37:23

#120 - The Authoritarian Mind #1: The Facebook Files,...

The Toddzilla X-Pod ·

2023/07/31

Your feral host is suddenly prolific? In the first of at least two episodes, Todd talks about how the Facebook document dump confirmed what most people already knew yet will only play to the messenger's choir. Trust: it matters. Also, what will happen when AI begins churning out endless supplies of effective algorithm-targeted agitprop? (hint: nothing good) Then comes a surprising, albeit half-hearted, defense of The Gatekeepers seasoned with a not as surprising dash of I-told-you-so. Part two

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01:08:56

#119 - Inherent Deceit & Self-Deception: Our...

The Toddzilla X-Pod ·

2023/07/30

After another extended hiatus, Todd's back with another sparkling hour of uplifting inspiration! (8:40) How does a person enthusiastically produce a podcast when the subject matter and outcome is completely devoid of basic hope? (9:41) "Fix" the for-profit media complex? Good luck. "It's the people." Tiptoeing into how pre-programmed deceit and self-deception are major parts of the how and why. (30:45) Deceit and Self-Deception. The opening salvo. Like it? Share

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01:30:44

#118 - Propaganda: Inseminating Zealots & The...

The Toddzilla X-Pod ·

2023/03/17

Taken from two episodes released in 2019, I begin laying the 2023 foundation for a return to my unfinished series focussing on Jacques Ellul's book, Propaganda. This episode focused on how propaganda severs the individual from themselves, robs them of their intellectual autonomy, and "crystallizes" inseminated thoughts, opinions, and agendas, inside the propagandee host. It then uses slogans, symbols, stereotypes, agitprop, and the warm glow of tribal fellowship, to turn them into malleable

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201 results

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