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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

01:16:52

#117 - Propaganda, Trust, Coronavirus, and You:...

The Toddzilla X-Pod ·

2023/03/12

After revisiting the March 2, 2020 episode recorded at the dawn of the pandemic, Todd uses 3-years of hindsight to explore ( 60:00 ) how much further trust in government and media institutions has eroded and the effects. Data overload, trust apathy, and monetized tribal agitprop leads nowhere good. Also, is a liberal democracy capable of defending itself against an illiberal insurgency without destroying itself in the process? Rachel Botsman's Book:

en

01:10:06

#116 - Guns, Balloons, Trains, Unworthy Victims

The Toddzilla X-Pod ·

2023/02/16

After spontaneously eulogizing his friend, Todd tries euthanizing our cliche-and disingenuous-gun "debate" addiction. Again (10:00) (18:00) Isn't it funny how the balloon and the ensuing UFO "mystery" distracted everyone from Biden's classified documents scandal? How about some MORE healthy rabid skepticism? (30:00) Your host got the inside poop on Ohio's train derailment. While the cause seems obvious, who's to blame? Is it corporate greed, the ongoing labor shortage, or worse, DOT incompetence

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01:23:31

#115 - It’s Still The People

The Toddzilla X-Pod ·

2023/01/27

As the podcast approaches the 5-years mark since its return, Todd revisits his Media 101 episode and further explores why the for-profit media sucks. (Hint: see the title!) Also, how personal attachments corrupt an already frail sense of basic reason, why emotionally compromised victims (and others) should never be consulted, and how a supposedly idealistic cultist "morality" eventually seeks out and crucifies its traitorous blasphemers & heretics, like Elon Musk and Joe Rogan. Segment 2 starts

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01:00:02

#114 - B for Boomerang

The Toddzilla X-Pod ·

2023/01/22

Studio 4 opens with a new episode and a new live stream on Twitch! This week at Davos, an official of the EU Taliban's Morality Police wants everyone to know that European hate speech laws "are coming to the United States." Do liberals realize that they've become exactly what they used to hate? Grab Chief Wahoo gear while you can! Also, Biden destroys whatever credible self-righteousness Democrats had left, and thanks to BLM, performative reparations legislation, and far left bigoted preaching

en

00:24

[Micropod] Our Great War

The Toddzilla X-Pod ·

2022/11/22

Over information & reality itself. From #112 - Storytellers, Truth, and The Great War of the 21st Century

en

01:12

[Micropod] Social Media’s Ministry of Truth

The Toddzilla X-Pod ·

2022/11/22

In an exploding state of informational anarchy, who gets to decide what's "true?" Who can you believe? From #112 - Storytellers, Truth, and The Great War of the 21st Century (11/8/22)

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30:25

#113 - Our November Surprise, TikTok, and Rocks From...

The Toddzilla X-Pod ·

2022/11/17

Reflecting on the rather shocking midterms and Trump's uninspired announcement. Was he pouting after being robbed of his triumphant return? Or worried about investigations? Segment 2 (16:02): The changing social media landscape and TikTok posing an obvious data-driven election threat from China. Segment 3 (22:12): Mankind at its best: Artemis finally lifted off sending Orion to the moon! "ToddzillaX" on most social media. LIKE, SHARE &

en

01:14:03

#112 - Storytellers, Truth, and The Great War of the...

The Toddzilla X-Pod ·

2022/11/08

Todd's back for the midterms and starts off by blasting the populist Poor Media Victim attitude, exploring whether propaganda and media literacy even matter, discussing informational warfare, and the finer points of navigating ideological drift and its extremists. Segment 2 (23:00): the Democrats' abortion debacle, The Sham-Wow Guy vs. Fettergump, and how the '22 midterms are a sure sign Idiocracy is here. Segment 3 (39:00): There were no blacks on the World Series rosters. So? Segment 4 (58:20):

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50:33

[Reload] Iceberg Ahoy! Validation Junkies & The...

The Toddzilla X-Pod ·

2022/08/23

From 2019: Social validation, dopamine, and social media's Walter White; more on how people are more willing and eager than deceived when it comes to swallowing fiction and disinformation; choking on data leading to confused gullibility; honestly in a crisis; Sausage Party Hope: children demanding their happy ending. Where's the spring of genuine hope? ALSO: The Battle of the 21st Century The iceberg bobbing off our bow Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube: Walter White cutting his meth

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53:53

[Reload] Story: The Propaganda Paradox (5-9-20)

The Toddzilla X-Pod ·

2022/08/19

From #79, this episode dove in to storytelling, a central theme in the quest to not only understand but hopefully fight propaganda's mind hack. Also, the relationship between stories, hope, and both kinds of religion: theological & ideological. What's the major distinction and why I believe traditional religion deserves its pass...on ONE ironclad condition. Watch YouTube for new video from July's scrapped episode! A flood of fresh audio is coming! LIKE & SHARE; RATE &

en

21:22

[Reload] All You Need Is Doubt (1/4/21)

The Toddzilla X-Pod ·

2022/08/16

This is the first of what will be weekly reloads highlighting ETC segments from the first 111-shows. From #97, this episode featured uplifting topics such as: why it's not necessary to conquer a democracy when a just little doubt'll do ya. Also, how can a nation avoid inevitable conflict when each half of the country functions according to different rules of factual physics? Is there a relationship between likability, deplorability, & disinformation? LIKE, SHARE & SUBSCRIBE! Music by Yellow

en

01:03:35

#111 - Tribal By Nature & The Invasive Species

The Toddzilla X-Pod ·

2022/08/09

The one where Todd finally plants his flag! We're tribal critters who are bound by self-serving fictions; these stories are called cohesive narratives; national myths. And, in this country at least, the collectivist fairy tale of socialism is the antithesis of individualism; the "prepare the road for the child" mentality is mutually exclusive with our established American principle: meritocracy. Collectivist socialism and its "equity" cult is, therefore, an invasive species. Wokeism is an

en

01:23

[Micropod] Murrow to FOX & CNN: From News to...

The Toddzilla X-Pod ·

2022/05/03

Selling blind confirmation bias back to us. A whole new podcast made of old episodes! Find it wherever you found this or here: https://toddzillax.substack.com/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjdLR140l--HufeRSAnj91A https://www.escapingthecave.com/

en

54:52

#110 - The Cost of Courage & The Limits of Anti-Vax...

The Toddzilla X-Pod ·

2021/12/29

Todd's back from sinus purgatory and joined in the studio by Cory! He's un-vaxxed and endured pre-omicron covid, so the show hits its crescendo with a frank, honest, and nuanced chat about responsibility, personal choice, and the ethical limits of anti-vax empathy. Before that, they explore why no one believes politicians, what it would take to regain any trust (it's authenticity, stupid), whether there's anyone worth believing in and, if so, would they have the courage to speak truth to the mob

en

41:30

#109 - Backdoor Reparations & Unity Via Division

The Toddzilla X-Pod ·

2021/12/07

The podship begins slowly changing course as Todd discusses his new Rumble channel, propaganda-by-omission, my-team blind spots, and how his favorite podcast exposed itself as woke. The signs were always there! Also: the special interest boomerang, avoiding exposure to re-articulated ideological scripture, D.I.E. = r.e.p.a.r.a.t.i.o.n.s., the stupidity of scapegoating majorities, and the naive No Tribe Follies. Storytellers, not truth seekers. Memorize that. "ToddzillaX" on most social

en

31:49

#108 - My Team Bullsh*t: Private Lives & Public Health

The Toddzilla X-Pod ·

2021/12/04

After nine months Todd finally births another episode! In the return, he discusses his new video focus on YouTube, the year that's been, his wedding & vaccine-related informational anarchy costing him his mother, and how one is both free to exercise their vaccine choice and subject to the decisions others make in response. Also, "My Team" Bullsh*t has effectively neutralized the government's ability to respond to another public health crisis. Music: Ryan Miera & Yellow Pills:

en

39:43

#107 - Social Media Avatars: Crazy, Stupid, or Full...

The Toddzilla X-Pod ·

2021/03/01

Trump's CPAC appearance marks the start of the 2024 campaign, barely a month into Biden's term. Will we survive this? After other contemporary messages of heartwarming fellowship and hope, Todd continues phoning his shows in, this time "reimagining" episode #64 which discussed performance-based validation addiction. Recorded at the beginning of the pandemic, other topics include how collective critical thought is impossible. You're not the Elephant Whisperer and their switch is internal. You can't

en

56:58

#106 - Political Cults & Mobs 101

The Toddzilla X-Pod ·

2021/02/22

After a 2021 open, your friendly virtual Toddzilla mines early episodes, from 2014 & 2018, as a foreshadowing refresher on ideological religions and the Holy War being fueled by their proselytizing zombie hordes. Remember kids, mobs: they're f***ing stupid! Ask your doctor if intellectual autonomy is right for you! (RE27) More: https://toddzillax.substack.com https://www.escapingthecave.com

en

53:39

#105 - Exploration, Evolution, Death of a Propagandist

The Toddzilla X-Pod ·

2021/02/18

People are storytellers not truth seekers. And we're explorers to the core. If you're looking for something positive, exploration brings out the best in us. Good luck today, JPL! How do we become more sophisticated informational consumers? Loved him? Hated him? Either way, Rush Limbaugh was probably the best and most influential for-profit propagandist ever. Also, finding the line between honesty and aggression, how the pandemic complicates a digital detox, and the relationship between money and

en

40:47

#104 - Leaders, Puppets, Boils, and Show Trials

The Toddzilla X-Pod ·

2021/02/15

Why aren't impeachments argued before the Supreme Court instead of pre-decided partisans? What better time to revisit the ridiculous idea of Mob Wisdom and the Plague of Democratized Opinion? Are the intentionally misinformed qualified to sit on a We The People's Court Jury? And, if "the people" are going to metaphorically kidnap and blackmail their representatives, should "news" outlets be subject to perjury laws? Also, the weird thing that happens when abstractions come alive! More:

en

201 results

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