The Art of Fighting BS

In this episode, Jack and Phrost dive into the growing wave of right-wing influencers abandoning Trump. From Joe Rogan's stunned reaction to the Iran war, to Nick Fuentes and Alex Jones turning on the administration, to Tucker Carlson's performative outrage—the rats are leaving the ship. Also covered are the Epstein files cover-up, with Phrost reading from a harrowing victim's journal, debate on whether MAGA reformers deserve forgiveness, and a for pitch the world's greatest charitable organization: Bum Justice.

Wrapping up 2025, Dr. Jason Goldsmith from The Immunology Podcast comes on to update the crew on the state of Public Health in the USA, including COVID-19 and flu vaccines, Tylenol use during pregnancy, and the broader implications of scientific literacy. Is everything as bad as everyone thinks it is? Well, that depends on how much you pay attention. Listen here below, or on Spotify, iTunes, or the 5G connection you have from your Covid vaccines. Bullshido · 60 End of the Year Health of the Nation 25 with Dr. Jason Goldsmith

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.

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