The Staying Free Podcast

My first in-person conversation with my good friend Parallel Mike is a deep dive into the realms of self-discovery and authenticity. We embark on a journey of understanding the divine potential within each of us. From transcending limitations to the inevitability of change, Parallel Mike guides us through the beauty of embracing our humanity in times of great change.
Delving into Parallel Mike's past experiences, the conversation navigates the complexities of finding courage and authenticity amidst adversity. Is voluntary struggle necessary for genuine growth? Together, we explore the transformative power of facing challenges head-on and the invaluable lessons gleaned along the way.
Having previously featured Parallel Mike in various episodes, this episode delves into unexplored facets of his journey, and important takeaways for people weathering the storm as we transition into a new cycle. 
While this episode marks a continuation of our ongoing dialogue, listeners are invited to explore the companion episode on Parallel Mike's platform, offering deeper insights from both perspectives.
Chapters:
(00:00:55) - Visiting Parallel Mike in Poland and recording in person
(00:05:23) - Parallel Mike’s backstory and shift from therapy to farming
(00:07:01) - From hardship to financial self‑reliance
(00:09:03) - Building a new life through discipline and purpose
(00:10:15) - The roots of courage and contrarian thinking
(00:11:00) - Surviving chaos and finding guidance through mentorship
(00:13:26) - The gift of belief and self‑transformation
(00:15:00) - Freedom, responsibility, and the human fear of choice
(00:17:00) - Building strength through voluntary hardship
(00:18:55) - Society’s loss of rites of passage and spiritual depth
(00:21:40) - Facing fear and transformation through challenge
(00:24:00) - Cycles of civilization and the coming transition
(00:27:00) - Awakening, intuition, and divine guidance
(00:31:50) - Closing reflections and mutual appreciation
GuestTwitter: (Link: https://twitter.com/parallel_mike)Website: (Link: https://parallelmike.com/)Affiliate LinksSurfshark: VPN / Antivirus / IncogniFountain: https://fountain.fm/jonnyhodl?code=3a917f606bPodcastWebsite: http://www.stayingfreepod.com/Links to all platforms: https://linktr.ee/stayingfreepodHost Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonnyhodlPodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/stayingfreepodDonate to the Podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/stayingfreepodDonate with Bitcoin: https://tippin.me/@jonnyhodl / bc1qvgktg2uurp69cf5xepjhunwhp6skxrf69hmq82Donate with Lightning: https://tipybit.com/stayingfreepod / ⚡️jonnyhodl@getalby.comHuge thank you to my generous supportersPim, Jayne C, Mark A, Parallel Mike

In this conversation, I sit down with John Vallis - host of Bitcoin Rapid Fire and one of the most thoughtful voices exploring Bitcoin’s deeper meaning. We unpack how truth, spirituality, and personal transformation all intersect in the Bitcoin paradigm, and why this technology may represent more than just sound money.
John shares how his own philosophical journey led him from skepticism to conviction, from worldly ambition to inner coherence — and how Bitcoin became a mirror for timeless principles of truth and freedom. Our exchange moves between religion, consciousness, psychedelics, and self‑responsibility, tracing the same thread that seems to run through each of them: the pursuit of what is real.
 
Chapters:
(00:03:23) - Introduction to John Vallis
(00:06:19) - Early Influences and Curiosity About Money
(00:09:04) - Life in Shanghai and Disillusionment With Finance
(00:10:17) - Alternative Medicine and Lessons in Integrity
(00:13:41) - From Gold Bug to Bitcoiner
(00:17:15) - Discovering Bitcoin as an Ethical Investment
(00:23:17) - Upbringing, Gold, and the Nature of Value
(00:26:30) - Bitcoin as a Source of Hope and Personal Transformation
(00:33:02) - Religion, Spirituality, and the Search for Meaning
(00:35:45) - Is Bitcoin a Spiritual or Religious Phenomenon?
(00:53:55) - Truth, Information, and the Divine
(01:05:06) - Gold vs. Bitcoin as Absolute Truth
(01:15:21) - Bitcoin’s Organizing Principle and Human Alignment
(01:24:14) - From Idol to Implement: The Spirit Behind Bitcoin
(01:31:29) - Hope, Courage, and the Future of Freedom
GuestWebsite (Link: https://bitcoinrapidfire.com/)Twitter (Link: https://twitter.com/johnkvallis)Affiliate LinksSurfshark: VPN / Antivirus / IncogniFountain: https://fountain.fm/jonnyhodl?code=3a917f606bPodcastWebsite: http://www.stayingfreepod.com/Links to all platforms: https://linktr.ee/stayingfreepodHost Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonnyhodlPodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/stayingfreepodDonate to the Podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/stayingfreepodDonate with Bitcoin: https://tippin.me/@jonnyhodl / bc1qvgktg2uurp69cf5xepjhunwhp6skxrf69hmq82Donate with Lightning: https://tipybit.com/stayingfreepod / ⚡️jonnyhodl@getalby.comHuge thank you to my generous supportersPim, Jayne C, Mark A, Parallel Mike

I'm back from a break with my first solo episode, reflecting on my thoughts and feelings about the world since staring my podcast 2 years ago, having over 100 hours of conversation with other sovereign individuals, and embracing my personal journey towards freedom.
Drawing inspiration from poignant quotes, I explore the sense of empowerment that comes from standing alone outside the influence of the masses, and reflect on the nature of breaking away from collective conditioning and unapologetically embracing nonconformity.
I finish up by going over some of the learnings, challenges and highlights from doing this podcast, and the direction I hope to take the show going forward.
I hope that this episode serves as a gentle reminder for those who may be seeking to follow their own authentic path to keep going and trust the journey.
 
Chapters
(00:00:00) – Introduction and purpose of the solo episode(00:00:50) – Why the podcast began during the COVID era(00:01:50) – Shifting focus beyond pandemic narratives(00:02:30) – Reflecting on fear, freedom, and emotional reaction(00:03:10) – Turning away from mainstream narratives and illusions(00:03:57) – Truth, freedom, and the quest for self‑understanding(00:05:00) – Quotes on mass psychology and collective illusion(00:08:00) – Comfort vs. truth and the fear of facing reality(00:09:30) – Breaking from the crowd and thinking independently(00:12:00) – Disconnecting from a sick society and seeking wholeness(00:14:20) – Modern slavery, distraction, and spiritual sickness(00:15:20) – Finding growth through adversity and discomfort(00:17:30) – Cycles of strength, weakness, and societal renewal(00:18:40) – Building a life of authenticity and self‑sovereignty(00:20:30) – Challenges of podcasting, creativity, and time management(00:22:30) – Overcoming imposter syndrome and reconnecting with listeners(00:24:10) – Closing reflections and gratitude to supporters
 
Affiliate LinksSurfshark: VPN / Antivirus / IncogniFountain: https://fountain.fm/jonnyhodl?code=3a917f606bPodcastWebsite: http://www.stayingfreepod.com/Links to all platforms: https://linktr.ee/stayingfreepodHost Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonnyhodlPodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/stayingfreepodDonate to the Podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/stayingfreepodDonate with Bitcoin: https://tippin.me/@jonnyhodl / bc1qvgktg2uurp69cf5xepjhunwhp6skxrf69hmq82Donate with Lightning: https://tipybit.com/stayingfreepod / ⚡️jonnyhodl@getalby.comHuge thank you to my generous supportersPim, Jayne C, Mark A, Parallel Mike

It’s the end of 2023, and the world feels both familiar and foreign. I bring together Parallel Mike, Yuri Bezmenov’s Ghost, and Ryan Rally for another Freedom Roundtable — an open, unscripted conversation about a year that’s tested everyone’s sense of truth, resilience, and freedom.
What have we learned since the mandates and moral panics? Has the “freedom movement” evolved or fractured? From COVID’s cultural aftershocks to accelerating debt, social media illusions, and the new wars reshaping the world, we ask what it really means to stay awake without falling into despair.
Each of us shares how this year has reshaped our priorities - community, responsibility, inner strength - and how to live meaningfully when the centre no longer holds.
We explore not only the major happenings but, more importantly, share insights on prospering, maintaining freedom, sovereignty, and sanity in the face of another year dominated by a barrage of media narratives.
Chapters(00:00:00) – Opening Reflections & The Fight to Stay Free(00:01:00) – Setting the Stage for Freedom Roundtable 2023(00:03:50) – Guests Return: Parallel Mike, Yuri Bezmenov’s Ghost & Ryan Rally(00:05:20) – 2023 Recap – Is the Freedom Movement Still Alive?(00:11:55) – COVID’s Shadow and a Collective Refusal to Forget(00:22:05) – Vaccine Debate & The Birth of Medical Scepticism(00:31:22) – From 9/11 to Now: The Making of Modern Doubt(00:38:30) – Financial Collapse, Debt & The Great Reset Mechanism(00:56:00) – West to East: Shifting Power and the Next Empire(01:00:29) – Ukraine, Gaza & The Age of Endless Wars(01:16:21) – Choosing Sides vs. Choosing Peace: Media Divide and Propaganda(01:22:25) – Algorithms, Elon Musk & Social Control through Platforms(01:33:16) – Clown of the Year 2023 – Satire in a Broken System(01:37:00) – Personal Growth, Resilience & Building the New Community(01:50:10) – Cold Showers & Inner Discipline – Lessons in Strength(01:53:47) – Parting Wisdom & Hope for 2024
 
Guests
Parallel Mike: (Link: https://twitter.com/parallel_mike)Parallel Systems YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYt8UcqG2wvkehnmiF_9AkwYuri Bezmenov’s Ghost (Link: https://twitter.com/HotelLubyanka)Ryan Rally: (Link: https://twitter.com/RyanRallyOh)Affiliate LinksSurfshark: VPN / Antivirus / IncogniFountain: https://fountain.fm/jonnyhodl?code=3a917f606bPodcastWebsite: http://www.stayingfreepod.com/Links to all platforms: https://linktr.ee/stayingfreepodHost Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonnyhodlPodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/stayingfreepodDonate to the Podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/stayingfreepodDonate with Bitcoin: https://tippin.me/@jonnyhodl / bc1qvgktg2uurp69cf5xepjhunwhp6skxrf69hmq82Donate with Lightning: https://tipybit.com/stayingfreepod / ⚡️jonnyhodl@getalby.comHuge thank you to my generous supportersPim, Jayne C, Mark A, Parallel Mike

Where does true masculinity come from - and what role does faith play in shaping it? In part two of my conversation with Will Spencer, we go deeper into the questions that cause division, yet also open doors to profound reflection.
We take a critical look at the modern manosphere, and why figures like Andrew Tate may embody conquest and bravado, but stop short of the higher calling of self-sacrifice. Will challenges the idea that masculine strength exists for its own sake, arguing instead that its ultimate purpose is found in service.
From archetypes of the king, warrior, lover, and magician, to the distinct and complementary roles of the feminine, our dialogue probes the ways men and women relate to the world - whether through rationality and action, or through emotion and intuition. This naturally leads us into a spirited exchange about faith, Christianity, and whether morality itself can exist apart from God.
Even where we disagree, the debate reveals one of the most pressing questions of our time: if evil is real, where do we root our understanding of good?
Chapters:
(00:02:09) – Modern manosphere and critiques of Andrew Tate(00:03:28) – Power, service, and Christian ideals of sacrifice(00:07:14) – Archetypes of King, Warrior, Magician, Lover(00:12:08) – Multiple expressions of masculinity through archetypes(00:13:30) – The divine feminine: intuition, emotion, and role in family(00:20:45) – Encounter with psychedelics: “20 seconds of hell” and spiritual searching(00:23:44) – Vision of Christ at Burning Man and steps toward Christianity(00:25:52) – Evil as reality: Epstein, child trafficking, and New Age denial(00:30:36) – Rooting masculinity in eternity versus evolution(00:39:18) – Christianity vs. New Age: the nature of morality and evil(00:59:31) – Jesus, Buddhism, Islam: differences in approaching God(01:08:45) – Will Spencer’s mission: personal mentorship and helping men grow(01:13:22) – Top book recommendations for men’s growth
GuestWebsite (Link: https://renofmen.com/)Instagram (Link: https://www.instagram.com/renofmen/)Twitter (Link: https://twitter.com/renofmen)YouTube (Link: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheRenaissanceOfMen)Affiliate LinksSurfshark: VPN / Antivirus / IncogniFountain: https://fountain.fm/jonnyhodl?code=3a917f606bPodcastWebsite: http://www.stayingfreepod.com/Links to all platforms: https://linktr.ee/stayingfreepodHost Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonnyhodlPodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/stayingfreepodDonate to the Podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/stayingfreepodDonate with Bitcoin: https://tippin.me/@jonnyhodl / bc1qvgktg2uurp69cf5xepjhunwhp6skxrf69hmq82Donate with Lightning: https://tipybit.com/stayingfreepod / ⚡️jonnyhodl@getalby.comHuge thank you to my generous supportersPim, Jayne C, Mark A, Parallel Mike

What does it mean to be a man in a world that no longer seems to know? That’s the question I unpack in this conversation with Will Spencer, host of The Renaissance of Men. Will has spent years asking - and living - the question of masculinity, taking himself into storms on the open seas, remote mountain ranges, and the crucible of initiation experiences to find out.
In part 1 of this 2-part episode, we explore his backstory and how an unlikely path of travel, testing, and personal challenge forced him to confront the meaning of strength, character, and identity. From sailing through violent storms to living for months in chaotic India, Will discovered that manhood is not inherited - it must be forged.
We also wrestle with the costs of standing tall as a man in today’s culture. Why do figures like Jordan Peterson face such fierce opposition simply for urging men to take responsibility? Why has modern society demolished the very structures that once passed manhood from father to son?
Will’s story is both deeply personal and universally relevant. It challenges us not only to ask what masculinity is, but whether we are courageous enough to claim it and live it in our own lives.
Chapters:
(00:04:20) - Will’s podcast origins and the rebirth of masculinity
(00:06:20) - Early struggles with identity and masculinity
(00:09:35) - The Industrial Revolution and the demolition of men’s roles
(00:11:55) - The cultural cost of standing tall as a man
(00:15:28) - Travel as a crucible for testing and forging masculinity
(00:20:22) - The necessity of hardship in male development
(00:22:40) - Initiation rituals and why modern men lack them
(00:27:17) - Colombia, India, and cultural challenges to identity
(00:31:22) - The storm at sea: Will’s defining test of manhood
(00:40:34) - Lessons from India and the myth of the noble savage
(00:48:58) - Christianity vs. New Age spirituality
(00:53:16) - Ayahuasca, trauma healing, and spiritual dangers
(01:05:29) - Masculinity, competition, and feminism’s cultural impact
(01:19:24) - Equality of opportunity vs. equality of outcome
(01:20:02) - Closing and preview of Part Two
GuestWebsite (Link: https://renofmen.com/)Instagram (Link: https://www.instagram.com/renofmen/)Twitter (Link: https://twitter.com/renofmen)YouTube (Link: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheRenaissanceOfMen)Affiliate LinksSurfshark: VPN / Antivirus / IncogniFountain: https://fountain.fm/jonnyhodl?code=3a917f606bPodcastWebsite: http://www.stayingfreepod.com/Links to all platforms: https://linktr.ee/stayingfreepodHost Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonnyhodlPodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/stayingfreepodDonate to the Podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/stayingfreepodDonate with Bitcoin: https://tippin.me/@jonnyhodl / bc1qvgktg2uurp69cf5xepjhunwhp6skxrf69hmq82Donate with Lightning: https://tipybit.com/stayingfreepod / ⚡️jonnyhodl@getalby.comHuge thank you to my generous supportersPim, Jayne C, Mark A, Parallel Mike

When I first met Sean Yuen in his holistic clinic in Puerto Vallarta, I thought I was just going in for an acupuncture session. What I didn’t expect was a conversation that would pull me into a much deeper exploration of freedom, healing, and the search for truth.
Sean’s journey has taken him from Hong Kong to India, the Amazon, and beyond — blending Chinese medicine, yoga, and ancient plant medicine into a unique path of holistic healing. With him, I question what it means to truly free ourselves: is freedom something granted by governments and authorities, or is it something we cultivate in the mind and the spirit?
We discuss the power of plant medicine, the traditions of ayahuasca and peyote, shadowed moments of “bad trips,” and the encounters that open doors into past lives, ancestral connections, and even alien dimensions. What is real? What is imagined? And how do we navigate between sickness and healing, fear and liberation?
This was one of the most profound and eye-opening conversations I’ve recorded. I invite you to step into it with me — not to find quick answers, but to sit with deeper questions about health, consciousness, and the very nature of freedom.
 
Chapters:(00:01:03) - Sean’s journey into Chinese medicine and global healing(00:06:01) - First encounters with yoga and plant medicine(00:08:58) - Leaving Hong Kong to pursue a different path(00:13:21) - Integrating traditional and modern Chinese medicine(00:16:21) - Yin, Yang, Qi: restoring balance through acupuncture(00:20:20) - Bridging Chinese medicine with plant medicine(00:24:06) - Awakening through ayahuasca ceremonies(00:34:03) - Mushrooms, peyote, and different medicines’ qualities(00:41:34) - Peyote “bad trips” and the role of place and facilitators(00:43:51) - Living and learning ayahuasca in the Amazon(00:55:36) - Sundance and Moon Dance rituals of the Red Path(01:05:19) - Ancient civilizations, lost practices, and spiritual disconnection(01:15:03) - Collective suffering, awakening, and post-pandemic shifts(01:23:25) - Death, past lives, and transformation of the soul(01:28:07) - God, intention, and co-creating realityGuestWebsite (Link: https://www.satisana.com/)Instagram (Link: https://www.instagram.com/travelbywind)Affiliate LinksSurfshark: VPN / Antivirus / IncogniFountain: https://fountain.fm/jonnyhodl?code=3a917f606bPodcastWebsite: http://www.stayingfreepod.com/Links to all platforms: https://linktr.ee/stayingfreepodHost Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonnyhodlPodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/stayingfreepodDonate to the Podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/stayingfreepodDonate with Bitcoin: https://tippin.me/@jonnyhodl / bc1qvgktg2uurp69cf5xepjhunwhp6skxrf69hmq82Donate with Lightning: https://tipybit.com/stayingfreepod / ⚡️jonnyhodl@getalby.comHuge thank you to my generous supportersPim, Jayne C, Mark A, Parallel Mike

What does it mean to live a life truly aligned with Natural Law? In this conversation, I sit down with Paul and Lauren Bell, the founders of TruthLoveAndFreedom.com and BlueHillFarmOrganics.com, to explore freedom, morality, and the choices that shape a conscious life. From activism and teaching voluntaryism, to cultivating a certified organic permaculture farm in Southern California, Paul and Lauren embody the principles they teach.
Their farm is more than food production — it’s a living community hub. Through fruit orchards, diverse food gardens, their mobile restaurant AhimsaBowls.com, school farm tours, permaculture classes, and recurring Activation Empowerment Retreats, they extend their work outward — building community grounded in right-livelihood. Together, they also host and teach a nature-based homeschool co-op, weaving ethics, education, and ecology into daily family life.
Paul draws on his decades of experience as a chef and yoga teacher, now choosing only to serve organic, plant-based cuisine as part of a life in alignment with his values. Lauren brings both academic depth and spiritual practice — from her degrees in eco-philosophy and cosmology to her studies in spiritual traditions, astrology, and plant-spirit wisdom. What unites them is a devotion to conscious parenting, community, and modeling ethical relationships with the natural world.
In this episode we explore veganism through the lens of voluntaryism, examine the pitfalls of moral relativism, and discuss awakening as a process of aligning small daily choices with universal law. Their journey raises the deeper question: if we want freedom in the world, how can we expect it while still enslaving others — human or animal?
 
Chapters:
(00:03:29) - Meeting Paul and Lauren Bell at Greater Reset
(00:04:41) - Paul’s Journey From Restaurants to Organic Farming
(00:08:07) - Lauren’s Eco-Philosophy Background and Permaculture Vision
(00:11:35) - Veganism and Voluntarism: Bridging Philosophy and Ethics
(00:15:57) - Family Choices and Transition Away From Eating Animals
(00:19:01) - Discovering Voluntarism Through Mark Passio
(00:22:06) - Explaining Natural Law vs. Moral Relativism
(00:26:22) - Government, Authority, and Breaking Mind Control
(00:29:25) - Ethical Veganism, Cause and Effect, and Compassion
(00:42:40) - Spiritual Growth Through Aligning Actions and Beliefs
(00:46:00) - COVID, Truth, and Awakening to Freedom
(01:02:12) - Homeschooling, Community Learning, and Raising Conscious Kids
(01:30:29) - Shallow vs. Deep Ecology in Farming Practices
(01:43:06) - Veganic Farming, Soil Health, and Natural Inputs
(01:52:19) - Building Community Through Empowerment Retreats and Events
(01:56:39) - Inspiring Others With Truth, Love, and Freedom
Guest LinksBlue Hill Farm Organics (Link: https://bluehillfarmorganics.com)
Instagram (Link: https://www.instagram.com/BlueHillFarmOrganics)YouTube (Link: https://www.youtube.com/@truthloveandfreedom2453)Odysee (Link: https://odysee.com/@TruthLoveAndFreedom:2?r=Ffxz18B8FRFeDcbYR7NdGksfkfPutu7V)The Greater Reset Speaker Page (Link: https://thegreaterreset.org/speakers/paul-and-lauren-bell/)Episode LinksMark Passio & The Science Of Natural Law (Link: https://onegreatworknetwork.com/mark-passio/mark-passio-the-science-of-natural-law)Affiliate LinksSurfshark: VPN / Antivirus / IncogniFountain: https://fountain.fm/jonnyhodl?code=3a917f606bPodcast LinksWebsite: http://www.stayingfreepod.com/Links to all platforms: https://linktr.ee/stayingfreepodHost Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonnyhodlPodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/stayingfreepodDonate to the Podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/stayingfreepodDonate with Bitcoin: https://tippin.me/@jonnyhodl / bc1qvgktg2uurp69cf5xepjhunwhp6skxrf69hmq82Donate with Lightning: https://tipybit.com/stayingfreepod / ⚡️jonnyhodl@getalby.comHuge thank you to my generous supportersPim, Jayne C, Mark A, Parallel Mike

When I first discovered Bitcoin, I understood it only as a technology. What I didn’t realize was that it would also take me deep into questions of economics, power, and morality. In this episode, I sit down with Guy Swann, someone whose work has been hugely influential in my own journey of understanding. Through Bitcoin Audible and his countless hours of study, Guy has become one of the clearest voices linking Bitcoin to Austrian economics, libertarian philosophy, and the broader struggle for human freedom.
Our conversation begins with the story of how Guy stumbled into Bitcoin in the early days — the excitement, the crashes, and the sleepless nights of obsession. But it quickly evolves into something bigger: questions about government, governance, and whether society can function without a monopoly on violence.
What is the true foundation of rights? Can charity and community thrive without compulsion? Does Bitcoin fundamentally alter the economics of violence by making “exit” possible in ways never before imagined?
For me, this was more than just a Bitcoin discussion. It was a chance to explore the moral edge cases, the messy gray areas, and the deep philosophical ground on which so much of our society rests.Chapters:
(00:01:04) - Introduction to Guy Swann and Bitcoin Audible
(00:04:05) - Guy’s background and first steps into Bitcoin
(00:09:23) - Early discovery of Austrian economics and libertarian thought
(00:12:12) - Surviving the 2011 crash and lessons learned
(00:20:38) - Bitcoin as proof of Austrian economics
(00:25:48) - Why money is essential for cooperation and society
(00:32:10) - Bitcoin, government, and the end of monetary cheating
(00:35:26) - The Wild West, governance, and myths of anarchy
(00:45:25) - Scale, community, and voluntary governance
(01:05:57) - Do we have a right to water, healthcare, or necessities?
(01:28:01) - Charity, inequality, and the limits of government welfare
(01:53:21) - Intellectual property, patents, and voluntary contracts
(02:11:01) - The principle at the root: means, ends, and violence
(02:21:52) - Closing thoughts and where to find Guy Swann
**Guest**Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheGuySwannBitcoin Audible: https://pod.link/1359544516**Affiliate Links**Surfshark: VPN / Antivirus / IncogniFountain: https://fountain.fm/jonnyhodl?code=3a917f606b**Podcast**Website: http://www.stayingfreepod.com/Links to all platforms: https://linktr.ee/jonnyhodlHost Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonnyhodlPodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/stayingfreepodDonate to the Podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/stayingfreepodDonate with Bitcoin: https://tippin.me/@jonnyhodl / bc1qvgktg2uurp69cf5xepjhunwhp6skxrf69hmq82Donate with Lightning: https://tipybit.com/stayingfreepod / ⚡️jonnyhodl@getalby.com**Huge thank you to my generous supporters**Pim, Jayne C, Mark A, Parallel Mike

In this conversation with former pro hockey player PJ Buys, I explore the unlikely journey of an athlete turned philosopher who walked away from the bright lights of the rink and the city to pursue meaning, freedom, and faith in the wilderness of Northern Canada.
We reflect on his personal conversion to Christianity, the symbolism of sport through ancient and modern history, and how moments of crisis — both personal and global — can strip away illusions and force us to confront deeper truths.
This isn’t just a story about leaving the mainstream behind. It’s about finding a new foundation of freedom, resilience, and hope when the world you thought you knew no longer makes sense.
Chapters:
(00:00:11) - God’s Voice Beyond Cultural Bias
(00:00:39) - Creation, Christ, and Finding True Freedom
(00:02:32) - Introducing PJ Buys: Hockey Player to Philosopher
(00:04:49) - Conversion to Christianity at Age 20
(00:07:42) - COVID Mandates and Exclusion in Canada
(00:09:33) - Building a Parallel Life in Northern Canada
(00:13:31) - Identity, Sport, and Seeking Approval
(00:20:24) - Diving Into Philosophy and Theology
(00:23:36) - Ancient Symbolism of Sport and Eternal Glory
(00:36:36) - The Turning Point: Mortality, Faith, and Meaning
(00:57:04) - Christianity, Consciousness, and The Nature of God
(01:15:25) - The Pandemic as a Spiritual Test of Integrity
(01:26:49) - Rites of Passage, Manhood, and Resilience
(01:33:33) - Optimism, Pessimism, and Preparing for What’s Next
(01:43:00) - Final Reflections, PJ’s Book, and Hope in ChristGuest Links:Twitter: https://twitter.com/PBuys5Book: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61177080-gradually-gradually-suddenlyAffiliate Links:Surfshark: VPN / Antivirus / IncogniFountain: https://fountain.fm/jonnyhodl?code=3a917f606bPodcast:Website: http://www.stayingfreepod.com/Links to all platforms: https://linktr.ee/jonnyhodlHost Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonnyhodlPodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/stayingfreepodDonate to the Podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/stayingfreepodDonate with Bitcoin: https://tippin.me/@jonnyhodl / bc1qvgktg2uurp69cf5xepjhunwhp6skxrf69hmq82Donate with Lightning: https://tipybit.com/stayingfreepod / ⚡️jonnyhodl@getalby.com**Huge thank you to my generous supporters**Pim, Jayne C, Mark A, Parallel Mike