Crazy Wisdom

• Episode #491: Mystical Continuities from the Desert to the Digital Age

  In this episode, Stewart Alsop speaks with Nico Sarian, Executive Director of the Eternity Foundation and PhD candidate in Religious Studies, about the strange currents that run through Armenian history, the fractured birth of early Christianity, and the survival of Gnostic and Hermetic traditions into the Renaissance. The conversation weaves through questions of empire and nation state, mysticism and metaphysics, the occult roots of modern science, and the unsettling horizon of accelerationism, drawing unexpected lines between the ancient world, the bureaucratic order critiqued by David Graeber, and our present entanglement with surveillance and identity. For more on Nico’s work, see The Eternity Foundation at eternity.giving.Check out this GPT we trained on the conversationTimestamps00:00 Stewart Alsop introduces Nico Sarian and sets the stage with Armenian history and the legacy of empire.05:00 The rise of early Christianity is traced, showing its fractures, Gnostic currents, and the persistence of esotericism.10:00 Hermeticism enters the frame, connecting mystical knowledge with the scientific spirit of the Renaissance.15:00 Empire versus nation state is explored, touching on bureaucracy, power, and identity.20:00 Mysticism and metaphysics are tied to questions of apocalypse, renewal, and hidden traditions.25:00 Nico brings in David Graeber, critiquing modern bureaucracy and how systems shape consciousness.30:00 Accelerationism surfaces, framed as both danger and possibility in modernity.35:00 Surveillance and identity are examined, echoing ancient struggles for meaning.40:00 Esotericism and religious syncretism are reconsidered as resources for navigating technological upheaval.45:00 The conversation closes with reflections on continuity, rupture, and the strange endurance of wisdom.Key InsightsOne of the central insights from Nico Sarian’s conversation with Stewart Alsop is that Armenian history carries a unique vantage point on the ancient world, positioned between empire and nation, East and West. Its survival under domination reveals how smaller cultures can preserve mysticism, ritual, and identity even within overwhelming imperial structures.The episode underscores how early Christianity was never monolithic but a field of competing visions. Gnostics, proto-orthodox bishops, and other sects fought over scripture, ritual, and authority, leaving traces of suppressed traditions that still haunt religious and philosophical discourse today.A powerful thread emerges around Hermeticism and Renaissance science, where occult traditions did not oppose but actively shaped early scientific inquiry. The magical and the rational were not enemies; rather, they grew together in ways that modern categories tend to obscure.Sarian and Alsop discuss empire versus the nation state, showing how forms of political order encode metaphysical assumptions. Empires sought transcendence through universality, while nation states leaned on identity and bureaucracy, each carrying spiritual implications for those living under them.Another insight is the role of mysticism and apocalypse as recurring frameworks for understanding collapse and renewal. Whether in ancient prophetic traditions or modern accelerationism, there is a yearning for rupture that promises transformation but also carries danger.David Graeber’s critique of bureaucracy becomes a lens for seeing how systems shape human consciousness. What appears as neutral administration actually molds imagination, desire, and even metaphysical assumptions about what is possible in the world.Finally, the episode points to the enduring tension between surveillance, identity, and esotericism. Just as ancient sects guarded secret knowledge from empire, modern individuals navigate the exposure of digital systems, suggesting that hidden wisdom traditions may offer unexpected resources for our technological present.

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• Episode #490: The Remnant and the Machine: Staying Human in an Age of Control

  In this episode of Crazy Wisdom, Stewart Alsop speaks with Samuel, host of The Remnant Podcast, about the intersections of biblical prophecy, Gnostic traditions, transhumanism, and the spiritual battle unfolding in our age. The conversation moves from Dr. David Hawkins’ teachings and personal encounters with the Holy Spirit to questions of Lucifer, Archons, and the distortions of occult traditions, while also confronting timelines of 2025, 2030, and 2045 in light of technological agendas from Palantir, Neuralink, and the United Nations. Together they explore the tension between organic human life and the merging with machines, weaving in figures like Blavatsky, Steiner, and Barbara Marx Hubbard, and tying it back to cycles of history, prophecy, and the remnant who remain faithful. You can find Samuel’s work on The Remnant Podcast YouTube channel and follow future updates through his Instagram once it’s launched.Check out this GPT we trained on the conversationTimestamps00:00 Stewart Alsop welcomes Samuel of The Remnant Podcast, connecting through Dr. David Hawkins’ work and reflecting on COVID’s effect on consciousness.05:00 Samuel shares his discovery of Hawkins, a powerful encounter with Jesus, and shifting views on Lucifer, Gnosticism, Archons, and Rudolf Steiner’s Ahriman.10:00 They trace Gnosticism’s suppression in church history, Frances Yates on occult revival, the Nicene Creed, Neoplatonism, and the church’s battle with magic.15:00 Discussion of Acts 4, possessions, Holy Spirit, and Gnostic inversion of God and Lucifer; Blavatsky, Crowley, occult distortions, and forbidden knowledge in Enoch.20:00 Hawkins’ framework, naivety at higher states, Jesus as North Star, synchronicities, and the law of attraction as both biblical truth and sorcery.25:00 Transhumanism, homo spiritus, Singularity University, Barbara Marx Hubbard, hijacked timelines, Neuralink, and Butlerian Jihad.30:00 Attractor patterns, algorithms mimicking consciousness, Starlink’s omnipresence, singularity timelines—2025, 2030, 2045—and UN, WEF agendas.35:00 Organic health versus pod apartments and smart cities, Greg Braden’s critiques, bio-digital convergence, and the biblical remnant who remain faithful.40:00 Trump, MAGA as magician, Marina Abramović, Osiris rituals in inaugurations, Antichrist archetypes, and elite esoteric influences.50:00 Edward Bernays, Rockefeller, UN history, Enlightenment elites, Nephilim bloodlines, Dead Sea Scrolls on sons of light and darkness, Facebook’s control systems.55:00 Quantum dots using human energy, D-Wave quantum computers, Gordy Rose’s tsunami warning, Samuel’s book As It Was in the Days of Noah: The Rising Tsunami.Key InsightsThe episode begins with Stewart Alsop and Samuel connecting through their shared study of Dr. David Hawkins, whose work profoundly influenced both men. Samuel describes his path from Hawkins’ teachings into a life-altering encounter with Jesus, which reshaped his spiritual compass and allowed him to question parts of Hawkins’ framework that once seemed untouchable. This shift also opened his eyes to the living presence of Christ as a North Star in discerning truth.A central thread is the nature of Lucifer and the entities described in Gnostic, biblical, and esoteric traditions. Samuel wrestles with the reality of Lucifer not just as ego, but as a non-human force tied to Archons, Yaldabaoth, and Ahriman. This leads to the recognition that many leaders openly revere such figures, pointing to a deeper spiritual battle beyond mere metaphor.The discussion examines the suppression and resurgence of Gnosticism. Stewart references Frances Yates’ historical research on the rediscovery of Neoplatonism during the Renaissance, which fused with Christianity and influenced the scientific method. Yet, both men note the distortions and dangers within occult systems, where truth often hides alongside demonic inversions.Samuel emphasizes the importance of discernment, contrasting authentic spiritual awakening with the false light of occultism and New Age thought. He draws on the Book of Enoch’s account of fallen angels imparting forbidden knowledge, showing how truth can be weaponized when separated from God. The law of attraction, he argues, exemplifies this duality: biblical when rooted in faith, sorcery when used to “become one’s own god.”Transhumanism emerges as a major concern, framed as a counterfeit path to evolution. They compare Hawkins’ idea of homo spiritus with Barbara Marx Hubbard’s transhumanist vision and Elon Musk’s Neuralink. Samuel warns of “hijacked timelines” where natural spiritual gifts like telepathy are replaced with machine-based imitations, echoing the warnings of Dune’s Butlerian Jihad.Technology is interpreted through a spiritual lens, with algorithms mimicking attractor patterns, social media shaping reality, and Starlink rendering the internet omnipresent. Samuel identifies this as Lucifer’s attempt to counterfeit God’s attributes, creating a synthetic omniscience that pulls humanity away from organic life and into controlled systems.Finally, the conversation grounds in hope through the biblical concept of the remnant. Samuel explains that while elites pursue timelines toward 2025, 2030, and 2045 with occult enlightenment and digital convergence, those who remain faithful to God, connected to nature, and rooted in Christ form the remnant. This small, organic community represents survival in a time when most will unknowingly merge with the machine, fulfilling the ancient struggle between the sons of light and the sons of darkness.

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• Episode #489: The Music Maker’s Stack: From Spotify to On-Chain Revenue

  On this episode of Crazy Wisdom, I, Stewart Alsop, sit down with Sweetman, the developer behind on-chain music and co-founder of Recoup. We talk about how musicians in 2025 are coining their content on Base and Zora, earning through Farcaster collectibles, Sound drops, and live shows, while AI agents are reshaping management, discovery, and creative workflows across music and art. The conversation also stretches into Spotify’s AI push, the “dead internet theory,” synthetic hierarchies, and how creators can avoid future shock by experimenting with new tools. You can follow Sweetman on Twitter, Farcaster, Instagram, and try Recoup at chat.recoupable.com.Check out this GPT we trained on the conversationTimestamps00:00 Stewart Alsop introduces Sweetman to talk about on-chain music in 2025.05:00 Coins, Base, Zora, Farcaster, collectibles, Sound, and live shows emerge as key revenue streams for musicians.10:00 Streaming shifts into marketing while AI music quietly fills shops and feeds, sparking talk of the dead internet theory.15:00 Sweetman ties IoT growth and shrinking human birthrates to synthetic consumption, urging builders to plug into AI agents.20:00 Conversation turns to synthetic hierarchies, biological analogies, and defining what an AI agent truly is.25:00 Sweetman demos Recoup: model switching with Vercel AI SDK, Spotify API integration, and building artist knowledge bases.30:00 Tool chains, knowledge storage on Base and Arweave, and expanding into YouTube and TikTok management for labels.35:00 AI elements streamline UI, Sam Altman’s philosophy on building with evolving models sparks a strategy discussion.40:00 Stewart reflects on the return of Renaissance humans, orchestration of machine intelligence, and prediction markets.45:00 Sweetman weighs orchestration trade-offs, cost of Claude vs GPT-5, and boutique services over winner-take-all markets.50:00 Parasocial relationships with models, GPT psychosis, and the emotional shock of AI’s rapid changes.55:00 Future shock explored through Sweetman’s reaction to Cursor, ending with resilience and leaning into experimentation.Key InsightsOn-chain music monetization is diversifying. Sweetman describes how musicians in 2025 use coins, collectibles, and platforms like Base, Zora, Farcaster, and Sound to directly earn from their audiences. Streaming has become more about visibility and marketing, while real revenue comes from tokenized content, auctions, and live shows.AI agents are replacing traditional managers. By consuming data from APIs like Spotify, Instagram, and TikTok, agents can segment audiences, recommend collaborations, and plan tours. What once cost thousands in management fees is now automated, providing musicians with powerful tools at a fraction of the price.Platforms are moving to replace artists. Spotify and other major players are experimenting with AI-generated music, effectively cutting human musicians further out of the revenue loop. This shift reinforces the importance of artists leaning into blockchain monetization and building direct relationships with fans.The “dead internet theory” reframes the future. Sweetman connects IoT expansion and declining birth rates to a world where AI, not humans, will make most online purchases and content. The lesson: build products that are easy for AI agents to buy, consume, and amplify, since they may soon outnumber human users.Synthetic hierarchies mirror biological ones. Stewart introduces the idea that just as cells operate autonomously within the body, billions of AI agents will increasingly act as intermediaries in human creativity and commerce. This frames AI as part of a broader continuity of hierarchical systems in nature and society.Recoup showcases orchestration in practice. Sweetman explains how Recoup integrates Vercel AI SDK, Spotify APIs, and multi-model tool chains to build knowledge bases for artists. By storing profiles on Base and Arweave, Recoup not only manages social media but also automates content optimization, giving musicians leverage once reserved for labels.Future shock is both risk and opportunity. Sweetman shares his initial rejection of AI coding tools as a threat to his identity, only to later embrace them as collaborators. The conversation closes with a call for resilience: experiment with new systems, adapt quickly, and avoid becoming a Luddite in an accelerating digital age.

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• Episode #488: Responsibility as Freedom, Belonging as Wealth

  In this episode of Crazy Wisdom, host Stewart Alsop sits down with Hannah Aline Taylor to explore themes of personal responsibility, freedom, and interdependence through her frameworks like the Village Principles, Distribution Consciousness, and the Empowerment Triangle. Their conversation moves through language and paradox, equanimity, desire and identity, forgiveness, leadership, money and debt, and the ways community and relationship serve as our deepest resources. Hannah shares stories from her life in Nevada City, her perspective on abundance and belonging, and her practice of love and curiosity as tools for living in alignment. You can learn more about her work at loving.university, on her website hannahalinetaylor.com, and in her book The Way of Devotion, available on Amazon.Check out this GPT we trained on the conversationTimestamps00:00 Stewart Alsop welcomes Hannah Aline Taylor, introducing Loving University, Nevada City, and the Village Principles.05:00 They talk about equanimity versus non-duality, emotional mastery, and curating experience through boundaries and high standards.10:00 The focus shifts to desire as “who do I want to be,” identity as abstraction, and relationships beyond monogamy or labels.15:00 Hannah introduces the Empowerment Triangle of anything, everything, nothing, reflecting on reality as it is and the role of perception.20:00 Discussion of Nevada City’s healing energy, community respect, curiosity, and differences between East Coast judgment and West Coast freedom.25:00 Responsibility as true freedom, rebellion under tyranny, delicate ecosystems, and leadership inspired by the Dao De Jing.30:00 Love and entropy, conflict without enmity, curiosity as practice, and attention as the prerequisite for experience.35:00 Forgiveness, discernment, moral debts, economic debt, and reframing wealth consciousness through the “princess card.”40:00 Interdependence, community belonging, relationship as the real resource, and stewarding abundance in a disconnected world.45:00 Building, frontiers, wisdom of indigenous stewardship, the Amazon rainforest, and how knowledge without wisdom creates loss.50:00 Closing reflections on wholeness, abundance, scarcity, relationship technology, and prioritizing humanity in transition.Key InsightsHannah Taylor introduces the Village Principles as a framework for living in “distribution consciousness” rather than “acquisition consciousness.” Instead of chasing community, she emphasizes taking responsibility for one’s own energy, time, and attention, which naturally draws people into authentic connection.A central theme is personal responsibility as the true meaning of freedom. For Hannah, freedom is inseparable from responsibility—when it’s confused with rebellion against control, it remains tied to tyranny. Real freedom comes from holding high standards for one’s life, curating experiences, and owning one’s role in every situation.Desire is reframed from the shallow “what do I want” into the deeper question of “who do I want to be.” This shift moves attention away from consumer-driven longing toward identity, integrity, and presence, turning desire into a compass for embodied living rather than a cycle of lack.Language, abstraction, and identity are questioned as both necessary tools and limiting frames. Distinction is what fuels connection—without difference, there can be no relationship. Yet when we cling to abstractions like “monogamy” or “polyamory,” we obscure the uniqueness of each relationship in favor of labels.Hannah contrasts the disempowerment triangle of victim, perpetrator, and rescuer with her empowerment triangle of anything, everything, and nothing. This model shows reality as inherently whole—everything arises from nothing, anything is possible, and suffering begins when we believe something is wrong.The conversation ties money, credit, and debt to spiritual and moral frameworks. Hannah reframes debt not as a burden but as evidence of trust and abundance, describing her credit card as a “princess card” that affirms belonging and access. Wealth consciousness, she says, is about recognizing the resources already present.Interdependence emerges as the heart of her teaching. Relationship is the true resource, and abundance is squandered when lived independently. Stories of Nevada City, the Amazon rainforest, and even a friend’s Wi-Fi outage illustrate how scarcity reveals the necessity of belonging, curiosity, and shared stewardship of both community and land.

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• Episode #487: Stablecoins as Weapons, Bitcoin as Escape: A Conversation on Money and Control

  On this episode of Crazy Wisdom, Stewart Alsop sits down with Abhimanyu Dayal, a longtime Bitcoin advocate and AI practitioner, to explore how money, identity, and power are shifting in a world of deepfakes, surveillance, automation, and geopolitical realignment. The conversation ranges from why self-custody of Bitcoin matters more than ETFs, to the dangers of probabilistic biometrics and face-swap apps, to the coming impact of AGI on labor markets and the role of universal basic income. They also touch on India’s refinery economy, its balancing act between Russia, China, and the U.S., and how soft power is eroding in the information age. For more from Abhimanyu, connect with him on LinkedIn.Check out this GPT we trained on the conversationTimestamps00:00 Stewart Alsop opens with Abhimanyu Dayal on crypto, AI, and the risks of probabilistic biometrics like facial recognition and voice spoofing.05:00 They critique biometric surveillance, face-swap apps, and data exploitation through casual consent.10:00 The talk shifts to QR code treasure hunts, vibe coding on Replit and Claude, and using quizzes to mint NFTs.15:00 Abhimanyu shares his finance background, tying it to Bitcoin as people’s money, agent-to-agent payments, and post-AGI labor shifts.20:00 They discuss universal basic income, libertarian ideals, Hayek’s view of economics as critique, and how AI prediction changes policy.25:00 Pressure, unpredictability, AR glasses, quantum computing, and the surveillance state future come into focus.30:00 Open source vs closed apps, China’s DeepSeek models, propaganda through AI, and U.S.–China tensions are explored.35:00 India’s non-alignment, Soviet alliance in 1971, oil refining economy, and U.S.–India friction surface.40:00 They reflect on colonial history, East India Company, wealth drain, opium wars, and America’s rise on Indian capital.45:00 The conversation closes on Bitcoin’s role as reserve asset, stablecoins as U.S. leverage, BRICS disunity, and the geopolitics of freedom.Key InsightsA central theme of the conversation is the contrast between deterministic and probabilistic systems for identity and security. Abhimanyu Dayal stresses that passwords and private keys—things only you can know—are inherently more secure than facial recognition or voice scans, which can be spoofed through deepfakes, 3D prints, or AI reconstructions. In his view, biometric data should never be stored because it represents a permanent risk once leaked.The rise of face-swap apps and casual facial data sharing illustrates how surveillance and exploitation have crept into everyday life. Abhimanyu points out that companies already use online images to adjust things like insurance premiums, proving how small pieces of biometric consent can spiral into systemic manipulation. This isn’t a hypothetical future—it is already happening in hidden ways.On the lighter side, they experiment with “vibe coding,” using tools like Replit and Claude to design interactive experiences such as a treasure hunt via QR codes and NFTs. This playful example underscores a broader point: lightweight coding and AI platforms empower individuals to create experiments without relying on centralized or closed systems that might inject malware or capture data.The discussion expands into automation, multi-agent systems, and the post-AGI economy. Abhimanyu suggests that artificial superintelligence will require machine-to-machine transactions, making Bitcoin an essential tool. But if machines do the bulk of labor, universal basic income may become unavoidable, even if it drifts toward collectivist structures libertarians dislike.A key shift identified is the transformation of economics itself. Where Hayek once argued economics should critique politicians because of limited data, AI and quantum computing now provide prediction capabilities so granular that human behavior is forecastable at the individual level. This erodes the pseudoscientific nature of past economics and creates a new landscape of policy and control.Geopolitically, the episode explores India’s rise, its reliance on refining Russian crude into petroleum exports, and its effort to stay unaligned between the U.S., Russia, and China. The conversation recalls India’s Soviet ties during the 1971 war, while noting how today’s energy and trade policies underpin domestic improvements for India’s poor and middle class.Finally, they critique the co-optation of Bitcoin through ETFs and institutional custody. While investors celebrate, Abhimanyu argues this betrays Satoshi’s vision of money controlled by individuals with private keys. He warns that Bitcoin may be absorbed into central bank reserves, while stablecoins extend U.S. monetary dominance by reinforcing dollar power rather than replacing it.

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