The Bardic Circle Episode 4: Books for Ascension

The fourth episode of the Bardic Circle focuses specifically on books to achieve understanding and self-actualization as a man, with current events commentary in the first half.

- Intro.
- 2:08: A personal story of someone raging at me over my position that children's cartoons should not be propagandized with politicized themes such as "no means no," criticism of Steven Universe.
- 10:06: The battle lines being drawn as social interaction breaks down rapidly, echo chambers on the internet.
- 13:50: Donald Trump's continued dominance of the public discourse, the GOP debate on August 6th, Trump's "simplistic charisma."
- 17:29: Donald Trump's policy book - Time to Get Tough, is Donald Trump dangerous? Donald Trump being a necessary bulldozer to destroy the current zeitgeist, the Islamic threat as Europe "hugs its way into non-existence."
- 21:55: The "Cuckservative" term, the Cuckservative establishment fearing Trump, the castrating influence of lobbyists on both parties, the breakdown of the two party system, the tightrope we must walk as the system breaks down and we march against the enemy.
- 26:17: Brief intermission as I ramble.
- 28:20: Intermission ends, Jeb Bush having zero game, Trump's magnificent game exemplified as he turned the tables on Gawker's dox, Gawker as a sinking ship.
- 33:06: Beta male publishes a dubious rape claim as a way to discredit Trump, the go-to strategy in the current culture being "when in doubt, cry rape," the leftist labeling and victim tactics losing their impact, MTV's White People, shit hitting the fan when whites cease feeling the leftover guilt from the Second World War - the potential and the danger, the people whining about "white privilege" being privileged themselves in the truest sense.
- 41:03: A new project I've begun, the insanity going back to a pharaoh named Akhenaten, conservative forces historically winning out against deconstructionist revolutions - but not now because they were trashed by the World Wars, conceptions of conservatism in different times and places and brief periods of awakening.
- 49:39: Trump coming at exactly the right time - the hour is late.
- 53:51: Bruce/Caitlyn Jenner being ripped by his or her own transgender allies over tax money paying for gender transitions, which is already happening in New York.
- 57:53: Brief technical difficulties.
- 1:01:42: Tech difficulties over, the previous theme continued, Andrew Cuomo as governor.
- 1:04:04: The narcissism and self-centered nature of many in the LGBT movement - how they need to infiltrate and co-opt any little thing in the name of "gay equality," gay Boy/Cub Scout leaders (with a personal story), the FDA's possible ending of their lifetime ban on gays giving blood being a public health issue.
- 1:22:07: The history of the left's cavalier attitude to HIV/AIDS, as Thomas Sowell outlines in his Vision of the Anointed.
- 1:30:50: The Vision of the Anointed continued in a summary.
- 1:31:40: SJW's trying to get Roosh banned from Canada, "Verbal Inflation" as described in Vision and how one crazed Canadian feminist using it.
- 1:38:42: The decreasing sanity of society as all traditions and tempering influences are destroyed in succeeding generations of the anointed, as Sowell writes at the end of Vision.
- 1:40:55: Robert A. Heinlein's Starship Troopers as a warning about societal stagnation and degeneration into fascism as the only escape valve from an increasingly insane "Progressivism."
- 1:50:32: Fiction as social commentary continued in Homer's Iliad - force as man's master and a stark warning about the contemporary deconstruction of the military under "social justice" auspices. Those without power will forever be at the mercy of those that have it, all social conventions and niceties can only exist within the context of the force to defend them.
- 1:56:11: Gone Girl, the disincentives toward marriage, and the price signals that marriage is a bad play for men. Some of the changes are good and some are bad, but humans need more than the continuation of their blood.
- 2:00:08: Society forcing relationships to two extremes - celibacy or promiscuity, and the monosphere often acting as the transition between these two extremes. Neither are very fulfilling.
- 2:05:26: Wasting time in your early 20's as not being terrible. Growth takes time.
- 2:06:19: The Homeric hero, and some of his drawbacks.
- 2:07:15: Homer's Odyssey, its outlining of the ideal relationship (as seen between Odysseus and Penelope) as that being a union of mind, how that relationship is disincentivized today - but as also seen in the Odyssey, it takes many defeats before you attain victory - it requires effort. You must suffer before you triumph, and your worth as revealed in that suffering.
- 2:12:16: The Odyssey continued, Agamemnon as a warning against easy triumph and complacency, particularly around women, Odysseus' victory coming out of suffering and also due to his careful navigation in his relationships with women - women can be dangerous to a man.
- 2:17:28: Aristotle's Nicomachaean Ethics, the Doctrine of the Mean as a source of living a good life every day.
- 2:18:19: Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, the Conan stories by Robert E. Howard, J.R.R. Tolkien's two conceptions of masculinity - the great men/the philosopher kings who lead through experience, and the simple man fighting for his own. The difference between Tolkienesque versus Homeric manliness.
- 2:30:02: Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell, the desire to serve your homeland, the mindset that makes a SEAL described in the book, with some passages, the connecting bridge between Tolkienesque and Homeric heroes as seen in Luttrell.
- 2:36:42: A prescient passage in Starship Troopers, a cautionary tale of low information and low quality voters.
- 2:38:56: The memoirs of Louis XIV, which delves into power, respect, attention, leadership, and work ethic.
- 2:39:57: The memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant, Meditations by Marcus Aurelius.
- 2:40:29: Some passages from Louis XIV's memoirs and Marcus Aurelius' Meditations on your associates and mindset.
- 2:45:08: The virtue of memoirs as a means of communication directly with the men that wrote them, a magic, as Carl Sagan said, that transcends space and time. Will there be similar memoirs written? The True Glory philosophy hopes there will be.
- 2:47:53: Marcus Aurelius: "Our life is what our thoughts make it." How you program your brain depends on your thoughts and more importantly, actions. You are your thoughts and actions. It is not enough just to think - this was the fatal conceit of the Pythagoreans and Platonists.
- 2:49:29: Carl Sagan and Cosmos.
- 2:53:01: Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich for mindset and putting yourself on the path to be great and attain your goals, and the 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene to get what you want socially.
- 2:55:49: The similarities between all of what these men have said over centuries. It can be taken as a calling that we are right and the freaks we despise are wrong.
- 2:57:12: The works of Theodore Roosevelt, Roosevelt's life and masculine example, with a mention of Cicero. Theodore Roosevelt's Naval War of 1812, and his speeches.
- 3:00:04: What we're reading now - Malazan Book of the Fallen, and The First World War: A Very Short Introduction, the importance of understanding World War I, All Quiet on the Western Front, Mein Kampf as giving you an insight into the social mania of the post-World War I Germany and the stark warnings of demagogic manipulation, Storm of Steel by Ernst Junger.
- 3:07:52: Conclusion, the need to combine self-actualization with a broader social purpose.

Note: Most of the links above are affiliate links, whereby I receive a commission if a sale occurs after a click. In any case, I only recommend products that I consider to be high quality. For more information, see this blog's disclosure policy.

The Bardic Circle Episode 3: Antifragility as the Backlash to Pussification

On this third episode, the events of the day are discussed as well as the broader concepts of antifragility and the pussification of the West.


- Intro, Ariana Grande, and the SJW's eating their own.
- 8:48: Donald Trump and his momentum, problems in Central America, people living vicariously through Trump.
- 12:25: Donald Trump as an example of antifragility, the importance of being antifragile in the inquisitorial atmosphere
we live in, Thick Libertarianism, and freedom as being not only a question of government, but one of culture.
- 16:56: "Social Justice" as an example of coalition warfare, with all of its instabilities.
- 24:42: The importance of being antifragile continued, the realization of the pussification of the West as the first step
on the road to antifragility, the raising and coddling of a pussified generation that denies reality.
- 31:08: The difference between older Millennials born in the 80's and the younger ones born in the 90's. The latter is far
more pussified, the SJW stuff took off when younger Millennials came of age around 2010, Bruce/Caitlyn Jenner as an example
of the un-courage the present generation aspires to.
- 37:30: The denigration of traditional masculinity, femininity, and normality, problems in men and women.
- 45:37: "Social Justice" coalition warfare continued, the fragility of the current population.
- 48:37: The media no longer attempting to hide its liberal bias, Donald Trump continued, the belief in American
exceptionalism fueling Trump's campaign.
- 52:04: Donald Trump's role in changing the narrative.
- 58:06: How can we become good soldiers in the culture war?
- 59:24: Putting yourself on the path to financial independence, the importance of having multiple sources of revenue, the
power of the internet as a means to independent revenue, always want more.
- 1:03:06: Getting into the mindset of not being a wage slave forever - working for a corporation is not antifragile,
research the way that money works and trading for a few hours a day as a means of supplemental income via trading, figure
out HOW you will make money, the importance of gaming the tax code - find every single loophole you can.
- 1:08:42: The most realistic way to emulate Trump is to release the filter and not back down, making normality a good thing
again.
- 1:10:37: Financial independence as a goal specifically for the young, the importance of not wasting your 20's, the worst
mistake I ever made, no apologies as the first step, financial independence as the second step, Donald Trump always on the
offensive, "all you need to do is stand and fire three shots a minute" - we are strong, they are weak.
- 1:15:55: Traveling and seeing other countries and people giving you a strong perspective, it is decidedly not a waste of
time.
- 1:20:53: Have an end goal in mind that aligns with your talents, then start on it as early as you can, the importance of
creating a work that is beautiful, combine this with an attitude of never apologizing.
- 1:24:53: The role of schools in sanitizing the individual of any character, the control mechanism of education.
- 1:31:33: Setting the tone and mindset of being an antifragile man (having an antifragile CHARACTER) through some basic
actions - bodybuilding and approaching women.
- 1:34:22: The disappearance of old-fashioned romance and normal socialization.
- 1:40:10: Bodybuilding, approaching, and reading about other great men are the three things that will start you on the path
RIGHT NOW, The Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, Cicero.
- 1:44:50: How to get over the fear of approaching girls.
- 1:48:30: Mein Kempf as an important book to read to gain insight into the nature of fanaticism, Year Zero ideology.
- 1:49:50: Summing up - reclaim your masculinity right now through bodybuilding, reading great men, and approaching girls,
take stock of your talents and vision, and get your kleos through creating a work designed to last forever.
- 1:53:21: The shooting in Tennessee, Obama as the epitome of what is wrong with the modern man and a divisive leader.
- 2:03:27: We must prevent Hillary from getting in.
- 2:05:46: Despite how overwhelming this can get, the only thing you can do is focus on making yourself the best you can.
You can only control yourself, your horse, and your sword as you charge with the cavalry.

The Bardic Circle Episode 2: Staying Grounded in the Heart of Darkness

Libertas/Nevermind and Immortal Watchdog discuss the events in Charleston, New York City, the social atmospheres that contributed to them, and how to stay grounded with a positive new narrative.



- Intro.
- 1:40: An overview of the shooting in Charleston.
- 4:55: The "rationality" behind the crime as compared to other mass shootings.
- 8:15: The plight of the omega male in America, the social atmosphere turning these males into radicals.
- 31:47: The tangent of the Confederate Flag, the whitewashing of Civil War history, the erasure of history by radicals of
all kinds, status whoring of SJW's that are primarily white Northerners who don't really give a shit about blacks in the
south.
1:03:10: How do we set a positive example for omega males that might fall through the cracks? How can they figure a way out?
1:13:00: Glory through action, action as inducing men to follow the example of winning men, with an example. The place of
pride and confidence in a healthy society, instilling guilt instead of virtue in modern society.
1:19:20: Fostering natural talents in people as part of the path, the place for a dual power strategy to deconstruct the
narrative. Glory is possible - but only with work.
1:22:32: How do we stay grounded in the heart of darkness? The internal sense of self-worth and grace in staying grounded,
the importance of immunizing yourself from defeat and failure through failing. Goal-oriented callings to ensure that no
void gets filled with destructive behavior.
1:33:31: There is some light shining into the darkness. #GamerGate's victory, recent information coming out of the Freddie
Gray case in Baltimore.
1:42:50: A breakthrough is waiting to happen, embracing the challenges with vigor.

Interview with a Confederate soldier on the mindset of those fighting.

The Bardic Circle Episode 1: Finding True Glory while Enduring the Freak Show

A Bardic Circle was a place for our ancestors to go to hear and share beautiful stories and music. This new stream/podcast will be ostensibly about sharing stories based on two major themes - kicking ass and navigating the freak show we live in.

June of 2015 appears to be a particularly freakish month - and it's only half over. Episode 1 of the Bardic Circle is with a longtime buddy and accurate social critic, Immortal Watchdog. In it, we discuss the freakishness we've seen this month, some underlying causes behind the freak show the West has become, and the need for a new philosophy to counteract the degenerate narrative, one based on a return to achievement and beauty that is at once fulfilling individually and socially. This lifestyle philosophy is what I call "True Glory," which I think will be crucial for a new overall social narrative. We talk about what it means and the mindset to get there.



- Intro.
- 1:27: Immortal Watchdog on how technology contributes to the freakishness, and relays his story of attending a conference of leaders in different circles, division among the Latino community's politics, but nevertheless a uniting to "keep the crazy at bay."
- 4:27: The division between old school liberals and the "social justice" crowd, with some personal examples, and #NotYourShield.
- 9:45: Bruce Jenner and the lionization of transgenderism - bordering on child abuse, malicious attention whoring, and the shortcomings of psychology as a science.
- 18:54: Deconstructivism and the "Social Justice Industrial Complex" - degeneracy as a form of self-aggrandizement.
- 20:08: Information access and narcissism in the West.
- 23:05: The need for external struggles, using my grandfather's example. The race to the bottom with the need to create a struggle from nothing.
- 26:43: Mattress Girl makes a porno.
- 32:51: "Rape culture" as a fad, and the skepticism that must come when examining public rape accusations, "Roosh's Law."
- 37:16: Real rape cultures.
- 38:55: "Rape culture" as part of the Social Justice Industrial Complex, the abuse of Title IX, and perverse incentives.
- 43:07: Does college serve a purpose anymore? The negatives surrounding universities in the present economy.
- 45:39: Despair and stagnation in the West leading to neurotic behavior as seen in "social justice." Possible futures.
- 52:30: Resource shortages and more on possible futures.
- 1:01:32: Rachel Dolezal and "transracialism." Is oppression the the aspiration of Westerners now? Is that the calling?
- 1:09:40: The disconnect between African immigrants and African-Americans, how the left has failed Black culture, identity politics supplanting the New Deal Coalition, with disastrous consequences for the groups it claims to represent, politics and voting as a tribal activity.
- 1:17:40: Correcting social issues, manufactured problems, and irresponsible media manipulation.
- 1:22:09: Future social problems centered around identity and resources, irresponsible media manipulation continued.
- 1:26:22: The Duggars and the hypocrisy vis a vis Lena Dunham, and the normalization of pedophilia.
- 1:42:33: IWD's Libertarianism, the deadness of Europe.
- 1:44:58: Social justice in action in New York City with Bill de Blasio as Mayor, libertarianism must have with it a "duty to the polis."
- 1:50:25: Status whoring by showing how "tolerant" you are and how that relates to politics, Hillary Clinton, her failures, and identity politics driving her candidacy.
- 1:54:51: The True Glory philosophy a part of the answer to the neuroticism and degeneracy in the West.
- 1:56:53: Bruce Jenner as an example of kleos gone wrong, the cosmic perspective, the necessity of accomplishing work greater than yourself.
- 2:00:56: The genetic legacy you leave behind as part of your work.
- 2:03:56: The capability of humans to leave behind a legacy beyond their DNA as being the most important part of the work, the ethos of the Homeric heroes needing to guard against disgrace to their names.
- 2:05:30: Anyone can leave a mark on history, the civic obligations in blood and deeds, the individual combined with the social responsibility in True Glory.
- 2:12:46: My own path.
- 2:13:18: The need to not be destitute even while pursuing your path. The average person probably needs to find a glory in the pursuit of wealth like Crassus or Rockefeller, however, the pursuit of wealth for its own sake can lead to misery.
- 2:16:01: The hero who failed in his lifetime, but whose deeds are known afterward, the unsung hero as a model of nobility.
- 2:16:19: Pursuing True Glory does not mean you'll get there, the importance of doing the work, the fickleness of fortune, the danger of a dopamine rush without the work - these are the actions of a drug addict.
- 2:19:20: The importance of faith, convictions, and enthusiasm in the integrity of your work and beliefs, how they must never be compromised, get up every day wanting to kick ass, even when your own ass gets kicked, the example of Marcus Luttrell in BUD/S.
- 2:23:03: The role of the ego and delusion in pursuit of True Glory.
- 2:25:51: Kleos as the social perspective to keep your work from getting neurotic.
- 2:27:28: The bicentennial of the Battle of Waterloo, analysis of the battle and its effects, and analogies to today.
- 2:37:30: The need to put forward a different narrative to "social justice," and some last thoughts on the path.