|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Joe Rogan:
Alright folks, here we go. We’re diving headfirst into one of the wildest rides of human history. You look around today, and it’s clear—we’re living in strange times. Technology is everywhere, cameras on every corner, drones buzzing overhead. We’re told it’s all about safety, but at what cost? Privacy? Freedom? And if you go one step further, you see the cracks showing in our cities—chaos, unrest, cartel wars bleeding over the borders, leadership that feels… let’s just say less than trustworthy.
It’s not just politics. It’s survival. It’s about whether we as a people can adapt before everything breaks apart. Some say the U.S. itself might divide, not through war like in the 1800s, but into these new ‘unions’—communities of like-minded people, trying to live, grow food, raise cattle, build energy, whatever it takes. And maybe out of that division, something new comes together.
Now, that sounds heavy—and it is—but this isn’t just doom and gloom. Because in chaos, there’s always a chance for something better. A reset. A chance to rethink who we are as people, as a country, even as a planet. And the folks you’re about to hear from? They’ve spent their lives wrestling with these big questions. From whistleblowers who’ve seen the inside of the surveillance state, to historians who remind us where humanity’s been, to visionaries who dare to imagine where we might go next.
What we’re doing tonight isn’t about picking sides. It’s about being real—laying out the challenges, but also the possibilities. Maybe, just maybe, after all the unrest, we can move toward something bigger, something better. That’s what this conversation is all about. So buckle up. This is going to get intense, it’s going to get weird, and hopefully, it’s going to get inspiring.
(Note: This is an imaginary conversation, a creative exploration of an idea, and not a real speech or event.)
Topic 1: The Rise of the Surveillance State — Freedom vs. Security
Joe Rogan:
Alright guys, thanks for being here. We’re talking about something that feels straight out of science fiction, but it’s happening now—surveillance. From the government watching your phone to corporations tracking what you buy, we’re basically living in a digital fishbowl. So let me kick it off: what’s really at stake if surveillance just keeps growing?
What’s at stake if surveillance continues unchecked?
Edward Snowden:
The real danger isn’t just that they’re watching—it’s that they’re recording everything. If people know they’re always being watched, they change how they behave. That kills freedom. You don’t need prison bars if you’ve got cameras everywhere. You’ve got psychological bars.
Shoshana Zuboff:
Exactly. It’s not only about governments. Big Tech created what I call surveillance capitalism. Our experiences—what we read, who we talk to, even how long we pause on a screen—are mined, sold, and used to shape our choices. What’s at stake is autonomy, the ability to live as independent human beings rather than data points.
Yuval Noah Harari:
And with biometrics, it goes deeper. We’re approaching a moment when algorithms will know you better than you know yourself. Imagine a system that can detect your fear before you even recognize it. That’s not just surveillance—that’s hacking humans. If power shifts from persuasion to prediction and control, democracy collapses.
Rand Paul:
The Founders wrote the Constitution to stop exactly this. The Fourth Amendment protects against unreasonable searches. What we have now is an unreasonable search happening every second of every day. Once government has that power, it’s nearly impossible to get it back.
Glenn Greenwald:
And what worries me most is how normal it feels to people. After 9/11, surveillance was sold as temporary. Two decades later, it’s permanent. Liberty usually isn’t stolen in one night—it’s given away slowly, with people convinced it’s for their own good. That’s the real danger.
Joe Rogan:
So let’s go deeper. Some folks argue we need surveillance for safety, like catching terrorists or stopping crime. Is surveillance ever justified, or is it always abuse?
Can surveillance ever be justified for safety, or is it always abuse?
Shoshana Zuboff:
If it’s narrow, transparent, and accountable, maybe. For example, cameras in a dangerous neighborhood can serve a purpose. But what we’ve got now isn’t targeted security—it’s wholesale exploitation. Your private life is being harvested for profit, and that’s abuse.
Rand Paul:
The trouble is, once you give government an inch, it takes a mile. We said “track terrorists.” Now they track school board meetings and churches. Safety matters, but liberty matters more. If you sacrifice liberty for safety, you’ll lose both.
Edward Snowden:
Right. The NSA didn’t just spy on suspects—it spied on everyone. That’s not safety, that’s suspicion without end. Real safety comes from targeted surveillance with oversight. What we have today is the opposite.
Yuval Noah Harari:
Look at the pandemic. Surveillance helped track outbreaks, but in some countries those systems never went away. That’s the trap. Once leaders have extraordinary powers, they rarely give them back. Justified in crisis, abused afterward.
Glenn Greenwald:
And let’s be honest—surveillance doesn’t stop the biggest threats. It didn’t prevent economic crashes or mass shootings. But it did give intelligence agencies a dossier on ordinary citizens. Safety is the excuse, control is the outcome.
Joe Rogan:
Alright, so if it’s dangerous and hard to roll back, here’s the million-dollar question: how do regular people fight back? What can be done to resist?
How do we resist and reclaim freedom in the age of total surveillance?
Yuval Noah Harari:
Step one is awareness. People have to understand their data is being weaponized. Step two is cooperation—because surveillance is global. Without international rules, the strongest players will dominate and reshape humanity.
Edward Snowden:
We need transparency. Governments should never be able to hide behind secrecy when it comes to mass surveillance. Encryption is key—it’s not a crime, it’s self-defense. And we need to support whistleblowers and journalists. They’re the ones pulling back the curtain.
Rand Paul:
Citizens must hold lawmakers accountable. That means ending blanket surveillance programs and forcing laws to expire instead of extending them forever. Liberty has to be defended actively—it doesn’t defend itself.
Glenn Greenwald:
And we can’t forget courage. People who expose surveillance pay a heavy price. If citizens don’t back them, freedom loses. You can’t outsource resistance. It’s a collective responsibility.
Shoshana Zuboff:
We also need new models for technology itself—platforms that serve people, not exploit them. We can design alternatives: data trusts, cooperative networks, strict limits on what corporations can collect. Democracy has to be built into technology, not undermined by it.
Joe Rogan (closing):
Man, that’s heavy. What I’m hearing is we’re at a crossroads—either we let surveillance slowly box us in, or we push back with awareness, laws, courage, and even new tech. The scariest part is how invisible it all feels day to day. Maybe the real fight is just waking people up before it’s too late.
Topic 2: Chaos in the Cities — Civil Unrest or Civil Renewal
Lex Fridman:
Cities have always been where humanity experiments with its future. They bring together millions of people with different hopes, fears, and struggles. But today, many cities feel fragile—torn apart by inequality, polarization, and sometimes violence. My first question is simple but difficult: why are our cities under so much strain right now?
Why are cities under such strain today?
Cornel West:
My dear brother, our cities are reflections of the wounds of our society. They reveal what happens when we worship wealth and neglect the poor. When greed is institutionalized and love is privatized, despair festers in concrete and steel. The suffering in our cities is not an accident—it’s the predictable outcome of moral decay.
Malcolm Gladwell:
What fascinates me is how cities operate like complex social networks. When trust breaks down—between neighbors, between citizens and institutions—small sparks can ignite big fires. The tipping points are everywhere. Strain builds invisibly until one event, one injustice, pushes everything over the edge.
David Kilcullen:
From a security standpoint, cities are increasingly vulnerable because they concentrate everything—wealth, poverty, infrastructure, and crime. Cartels, gangs, and extremist groups thrive where governance is weak. Strain happens when the state loses its monopoly on order and violence.
Naomi Klein:
And we can’t ignore how crises are used against cities. Economic crashes, climate disasters, pandemics—each shock has been leveraged to privatize public goods and deepen inequality. Cities absorb the heaviest blows. When people can’t afford rent, healthcare, or even safety, strain turns into fury.
Jordan Peterson:
At the heart of the matter is meaning. Cities concentrate opportunities, but also chaos. When people lose a sense of purpose—when they are cut off from responsibility, tradition, and community—they collapse into nihilism. Strain comes not just from poverty, but from the absence of structures that give life order.
Lex Fridman:
You’ve all described forces that pull at the fabric of the city—moral decay, broken trust, insecurity, inequality, loss of meaning. But let me press further: when unrest erupts—whether protests, riots, or cartel violence—can it ever lead to renewal, or does it always accelerate collapse?
Does unrest lead to renewal or collapse?
Malcolm Gladwell:
Unrest is a tipping point. It can lead to collapse if leaders react with fear and repression. But if it forces a reckoning—if institutions respond with reform—unrest becomes the seed of renewal. The outcome depends less on the protestors than on those in power.
Cornel West:
Exactly, brother Malcolm. Disorder can be the language of the unheard. Renewal is possible if we respond with justice, compassion, and love. But when elites answer with tanks instead of truth, unrest curdles into deeper despair. Renewal is not guaranteed—it’s a choice.
Jordan Peterson:
I would caution, though. Not all unrest is virtuous. Sometimes it’s driven by resentment, by the desire to tear down what others have built. That doesn’t lead to renewal—it leads to ashes. Renewal requires responsibility, not just rage. Chaos without vision cannot build.
David Kilcullen:
From my experience in conflict zones, unrest is like a test of legitimacy. If authorities listen and adjust, unrest can reset the social contract. If they ignore or suppress, it metastasizes into chronic conflict. That’s when cities start resembling insurgency battlegrounds.
Naomi Klein:
And we should remember: most progress in history has come after unrest. Labor rights, racial justice, democracy itself—all required disruption. Renewal doesn’t come from polite requests. It comes from pressure. The tragedy is when systems are so unjust that unrest becomes the only voice people have.
Lex Fridman:
That brings us to the most important question: how do we guide our cities toward renewal instead of collapse? What practical steps can be taken to build resilience and justice?
What steps can lead cities toward renewal instead of collapse?
David Kilcullen:
Invest in resilience. That means not just more policing, but integrating community networks with security. People need to feel that government is present and trustworthy. Where governance is strong and inclusive, criminal actors lose ground.
Naomi Klein:
We must also address inequality at its roots. Affordable housing, healthcare, climate preparedness—these are not luxuries. They are the scaffolding of urban stability. If we don’t change the economic rules that hollow out cities, unrest will be inevitable.
Jordan Peterson:
But we can’t only focus on systems. We need individuals to take responsibility. Give young people purpose—families to care for, communities to serve, ideals to strive toward. Without meaning, no amount of policy will heal the city. Renewal begins one person at a time.
Cornel West:
And let us never forget truth-telling. We cannot heal what we refuse to confront—racism, poverty, exclusion. Renewal demands courage to look in the mirror, to admit our failures, and to love the least of these as much as we love ourselves.
Malcolm Gladwell:
I’d add that small, credible wins matter. When citizens see even modest projects work—like a fair policing initiative or a successful housing program—it restores trust. Renewal doesn’t need to be grand at first. It needs to be believable. And belief is contagious.
Lex Fridman (closing):
Listening to all of you, I’m struck by how fragile cities are—and how powerful they can be. Unrest can either deepen despair or spark renewal. The choice is not automatic; it depends on us—our leaders, our communities, and our willingness to confront the truth. Maybe the hope is this: that even in chaos, there is a chance to build something more just, more human, and more resilient.
Topic 3: Cartels, Borders, and the Future of Security
Joe Rogan:
Alright guys, let’s talk about something that feels both terrifying and surreal: cartels and border security. These groups operate like multinational corporations—violent ones. They affect politics, economies, and entire communities. So first question: what do cartels represent today? Are they just organized crime, or something much bigger?
What do cartels represent today?
Ioan Grillo:
Cartels are no longer just gangs smuggling drugs. They’ve become shadow states. They tax businesses, they run extortion rackets, they decide who lives and dies in entire towns. In some parts of Mexico, people don’t call the police—they call the cartel. They represent the vacuum left by weak or corrupt governments.
Jocko Willink:
From a military perspective, they’re insurgent organizations. They use violence strategically, control territory, and exploit fear to keep populations in line. They’re disciplined, adaptive, and brutally effective. Treating them like ordinary criminals underestimates the threat.
Tom Wainwright:
Economically, cartels are entrepreneurs in illicit markets. They diversify—moving from drugs to oil theft, mining, even avocados. Their business model thrives on prohibition. As long as certain markets remain illegal, cartels will supply them. They represent the dark side of global capitalism.
Javier Sicilia:
As a poet and activist, I see them as symbols of our collective failure. My son was killed by cartel violence. These groups thrive because societies allow corruption, inequality, and demand for drugs. They represent not just crime, but the death of compassion and justice.
Mike Vigil:
Having worked inside the DEA, I can tell you cartels represent the most powerful transnational criminal organizations in the world. Their reach extends from Colombia to Canada, from Europe to Asia. They corrupt governments, they buy politicians, they infiltrate police. They’re bigger than crime—they’re a parallel power structure.
Joe Rogan:
So if cartels are this big, the next question is obvious: can they actually be stopped, or are we just managing chaos forever?
Can cartels ever be defeated?
Jocko Willink:
You can’t just “defeat” cartels like you would in a conventional war. But you can weaken them. That takes a combination of military pressure, law enforcement, and—most importantly—economic alternatives. People join cartels because they offer money and power. You need to provide something better.
Ioan Grillo:
I agree. Arresting leaders can destabilize groups, but it rarely kills them. We’ve seen kingpins fall and violence spike as rivals fight for control. The cycle repeats. The long-term solution is building strong institutions—police forces that aren’t corrupt, courts that function, governments that don’t sell out.
Tom Wainwright:
And we need to look at the economics. When alcohol prohibition ended in the U.S., bootleggers disappeared overnight. If you legalize and regulate certain drugs, you cut off the cartels’ biggest revenue streams. You won’t eliminate crime, but you’ll shrink its scale.
Mike Vigil:
Legalization might work for some markets, but not all. Cartels are too diversified now. Even if drugs are legalized, they’ll pivot to human trafficking, extortion, cybercrime. To truly defeat them, we need global cooperation—sharing intelligence, choking off money laundering, dismantling their financial networks.
Javier Sicilia:
Defeat is not only about force or economics. It’s about healing societies. If we don’t address the grief, the trauma, the corruption that feed the cartels, they will always return. We must build cultures of compassion, justice, and solidarity. Otherwise, it’s just one dead kingpin after another.
Joe Rogan:
That brings me to the last one: what does the future look like if we don’t get this right? What’s at stake for the U.S., Mexico, and beyond?
What’s at stake for the future?
Tom Wainwright:
If we don’t act, cartels will keep evolving. They’ll become even more like corporations, diversifying into new industries, corrupting more governments, embedding themselves deeper in the global economy. The risk is that organized crime becomes indistinguishable from legitimate business in some places.
Mike Vigil:
For the U.S., it means a flood of fentanyl, more overdose deaths, more corruption seeping into our own institutions. For Mexico, it means a continued erosion of democracy. For the world, it means criminal networks with global reach, more powerful than many nation-states.
Javier Sicilia:
And it means more lives shattered. Families destroyed, communities silenced, children growing up in fear. If we fail, we condemn future generations to live in societies where violence is normal, where grief is constant. That’s the true cost.
Ioan Grillo:
We’re already seeing cartels expand north. They’re in U.S. cities, quietly operating. If nothing changes, violence could spill over more visibly. Think about a dozen American cities experiencing the same chaos as parts of Mexico. That’s not science fiction—it’s a real possibility.
Jocko Willink:
Bottom line—if we don’t get serious, cartels will continue filling every gap left by weak systems. The future will be one where power isn’t defined by governments, but by whoever has the most guns, money, and fear. That’s a future none of us should accept.
Joe Rogan (closing):
This is wild. What I’m hearing is cartels aren’t just about drugs—they’re about power, economics, and human suffering. Defeating them isn’t simple. It’s about building strong institutions, changing incentives, and healing societies. If we don’t, the future looks pretty dark. If we do—maybe we can finally turn chaos into something better.
Topic 4: Breaking Apart or Coming Together — Will America Divide?
Lex Fridman:
America has always been an experiment in unity across difference. Today, though, we hear serious talk of division—political polarization, economic fragmentation, even speculation that the country might break into regions or unions. My first question is direct: do you believe America is truly at risk of breaking apart?
Is America at risk of breaking apart?
Peter Zeihan:
Yes, the structural pressures are real. The U.S. is geographically secure but internally divided. Demographics, economics, and politics are pulling states in different directions. Energy-rich regions like Texas, for instance, feel little need for Washington. The risk isn’t a Civil War 2.0—it’s fragmentation by neglect.
Marianne Williamson:
I see the risk less as geography and more as the human heart. We are suffering from a spiritual disconnection. When people no longer see each other as family, the union frays. Division is not inevitable, but it becomes likely if we don’t heal the anger and fear that dominate our politics.
Charlie Kirk:
There is definitely risk. People feel alienated because elites in Washington and cultural institutions don’t represent them. That creates talk of secession or regional independence. I’m not saying it’s desirable—but the anger is real, and it’s dangerous to ignore.
Andrew Yang:
I’d say the greater risk is soft fragmentation. We already see people sorting into states and communities that match their values. That’s not secession, but it is division. The danger is that our national identity dissolves into tribalism, where people care more about “their side” than the country.
Francis Fukuyama:
Historically, democracies face these crises when trust in institutions collapses. America is at risk, but I believe the institutions are still resilient. The greater danger is paralysis, not collapse—government so dysfunctional it feels irrelevant. That slow erosion could be just as damaging as formal division.
Lex Fridman:
So if the risk is real, the next question becomes: if America were to fragment, what would that look like? Would it be political, cultural, or even economic unions of like-minded states?
If America divides, what form might it take?
Andrew Yang:
I think it would be more about functional unions than official secession. Imagine regions cooperating on specific issues—energy, agriculture, technology—without waiting for Washington. It would feel like parallel systems growing within the same borders.
Charlie Kirk:
You’re already seeing conservative states band together on cultural issues and liberal states do the same on climate or immigration. If Washington keeps overreaching, that trend could harden into blocs. It may start as policy differences, but it could evolve into something closer to separate unions.
Marianne Williamson:
But that would be a tragedy. America was built on the idea that out of many, we are one. If we accept permanent division, we betray that promise. The real question isn’t what form division takes—it’s whether we have the courage to resist it by rediscovering compassion and common purpose.
Peter Zeihan:
From a geopolitical lens, fragmentation would be pragmatic. One region might manage agriculture, another technology, another manufacturing. It wouldn’t be ideological at first—it would be economic specialization. But once those unions form, they gain momentum. History shows once you start down that path, reintegration is very difficult.
Francis Fukuyama:
We should also remember that division is often less about lines on a map and more about legitimacy. If people no longer see Washington as legitimate, they will naturally look to governors, mayors, or local networks. That shift in loyalty is the true marker of fragmentation.
Lex Fridman:
That leads us to the hardest question: what would it take to renew American unity instead of division? What concrete steps might bring the country together?
What could renew American unity?
Marianne Williamson:
We must tell a new story of love and justice. Unity won’t come from policy alone—it comes from recognizing each other’s humanity. That means addressing poverty, racial injustice, and the culture of contempt. Love is not sentimental; it is the most radical political force we have.
Francis Fukuyama:
Institutional renewal is key. Citizens need to see government function effectively again—delivering infrastructure, managing crises, protecting rights. Competence rebuilds trust. Without it, no amount of rhetoric will convince people the union is worth saving.
Charlie Kirk:
We need to respect federalism—let states govern themselves more, without Washington imposing one-size-fits-all rules. If people feel they have real control locally, they won’t feel the need to separate nationally. Respecting differences is the path to keeping the country intact.
Andrew Yang:
I’d argue for structural reforms: ranked-choice voting, open primaries, universal basic income. These changes would reduce polarization, make politics more responsive, and give people tangible reasons to believe the system works for them again. Without reform, unity is just a slogan.
Peter Zeihan:
Unity also requires realism. America is still far more stable than most nations. But we need to invest in what binds us: infrastructure, defense, shared prosperity. If citizens see the nation delivering real value, loyalty to the union will remain strong.
Lex Fridman (closing):
What I hear from each of you is that division is possible, maybe even likely—but not inevitable. The future depends on whether we can rebuild trust, tell a new story of belonging, and create systems that serve people again. America is fragile, but perhaps fragility is also the proof of how precious this experiment is.
Topic 5: Global Unity After the Storm — Is a New World Possible?
Lex Fridman (moderator):
We’ve explored chaos, surveillance, conflict, and division. Now I’d like to turn to hope. My first question is simple, but maybe the hardest: do you believe humanity can ever achieve true global unity, or is that just an ideal beyond our reach?
Is global unity truly possible?
Deepak Chopra:
Global unity is not just possible—it is inevitable. Because consciousness itself is universal. We are not separate; our divisions are illusions. When people awaken to the deeper reality that we are waves in the same ocean, unity arises naturally, not by force but by recognition.
Elon Musk:
It depends how you define unity. If you mean one-world government, I doubt it—that usually goes wrong. But if you mean humanity aligning on survival—space colonization, sustainable energy, AI safety—then yes, I think it’s possible. Because the alternative is extinction.
Jane Goodall:
Yes, I believe it. I’ve seen people across the world—different cultures, religions, languages—come together to protect nature. The young especially give me hope. When they see forests vanishing or animals suffering, they respond not as “nations,” but as humans. That spirit is unity.
Dalai Lama:
Unity begins in the human heart. If we cultivate compassion, it radiates outward—to families, to nations, to the world. Without inner peace, world peace is impossible. But when individuals learn kindness, unity grows naturally.
Reverend Moon:
God’s original intention was one human family under heaven. The divisions of race, nation, and religion are temporary. In the end, humanity must return to this truth: we are brothers and sisters. Unity is not optional; it is destiny.
Lex Fridman:
Thank you. That leads to my second question: what could actually bring humanity to unity? What are the forces or events strong enough to break through division and push us into cooperation?
What would push humanity into unity?
Elon Musk:
Honestly, an external threat—like an asteroid, a pandemic far worse than COVID, or advanced AI. Things that no country can solve alone. Space exploration also forces cooperation. If we want to become multiplanetary, we either work together or we fail.
Deepak Chopra:
Awakening is the real catalyst. If enough people experience meditation, mindfulness, compassion practices, the consciousness of the planet shifts. Catastrophes may push us, yes, but transformation doesn’t require destruction—it requires awareness.
Dalai Lama:
Suffering can wake people up. When we see others in pain, we realize we are the same. But we do not need war or disaster for this realization. Education, dialogue, compassion—these can prepare unity without tragedy.
Jane Goodall:
I think it’s when people realize that we are destroying our only home. When forests fall, when climate shifts, when species vanish—it affects us all. The Earth itself is telling us: you cannot survive divided. That’s a message we cannot ignore forever.
Reverend Moon:
The coming of unity will be through both suffering and revelation. Crises show us our helplessness. But also, God is working to reveal truth through messengers, visions, and movements that teach that all humanity is one. Crisis shakes us, but love unites us.
Lex Fridman:
That brings us to the final, maybe most beautiful question: if humanity does achieve unity, what does the world look like? Paint me that vision.
What does a unified world look like?
Jane Goodall:
It looks like children everywhere growing up with clean air, clean water, and a sense of wonder for animals. Communities living in balance with nature. A world where people celebrate differences in culture, but recognize the shared responsibility to protect the planet.
Deepak Chopra:
A unified world is one where the boundaries of “us” and “them” dissolve. Where technology serves compassion, not control. Where we see each other as mirrors of the same self. It is not uniformity—it is harmony. Many instruments, one symphony.
Dalai Lama:
It is a world where compassion guides politics. Leaders act with humility, not ego. Nations cooperate not from fear, but from friendship. And individuals live with inner peace, which blossoms outward into peace among nations.
Reverend Moon:
In the age of unity, humanity will live as one family under God. Races, nations, and religions will not fight but serve one another. Families will be the foundation, love the currency, and truth the guiding light. This is not imagination—it is the original blueprint of creation.
Elon Musk:
For me, unity means humanity survives. We solve climate, we avoid AI destroying us, and we go to Mars. We’ll look back and think: we almost blew it, but we made it. And when people on Earth and Mars both say, “We are one species,” that’s true unity.
Lex Fridman (closing):
So what I’m hearing is this: unity is not fantasy—it’s destiny, but how we reach it is still open. Some of you see it through catastrophe, some through consciousness, some through divine guidance, some through planetary survival. Maybe it’s all of these together. But in every vision, unity is built not on control, but on compassion, truth, and a recognition that we are one.
Final Thoughts By Lex Fridman
Listening to these conversations, what becomes clear is just how fragile our world really is. Surveillance isn’t science fiction anymore—it’s here, woven into our daily lives. The unrest in cities, the violence, the corruption—it’s easy to feel like everything is breaking down. But hidden in that breakdown is a test of who we are.
History shows that humans are remarkably adaptable. We survive by coming together, by building trust, by believing in something larger than ourselves. The idea of America splitting into unions might sound like collapse, but it could also be seen as communities rediscovering who they are—finding strength in shared purpose. And beyond that, we heard something more powerful: the possibility that all of humanity, after so much chaos, could come together. Not in some utopian dream, but through compassion, through responsibility, through choosing to treat each other as family.
The future isn’t a fixed path. It’s not written by governments or by corporations—it’s written by us, in the choices we make every day. Whether we choose fear or courage. Division or unity. Control or freedom.
If there’s one thing I’d leave you with tonight, it’s this: the tools to build a better world already exist inside us. In love, in kindness, in the way we imagine tomorrow. These are dark times, but they’re also times of possibility. And if we meet them with open hearts and determined minds, we can create a future worthy of the word humanity. Thank you for joining us—and take care of one another.
Short Bios:
Edward Snowden is a former NSA contractor and whistleblower who exposed global mass surveillance programs. He continues to advocate for privacy, digital rights, and government accountability.
Shoshana Zuboff is a scholar and author known for her work on surveillance capitalism. She examines the power of big tech and its impact on democracy and human freedom.
Andrew Yang is an entrepreneur, author, and former presidential candidate. He focuses on technology, economics, and policies like universal basic income to prepare for the future of work.
Yuval Noah Harari is a historian and bestselling author of works such as "Sapiens" and "Homo Deus." His research explores human evolution, technology, and the future of civilization.
Glenn Greenwald is a journalist and lawyer known for his work reporting on government surveillance and civil liberties. He co-founded The Intercept and has written extensively on freedom and democracy.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is an environmental attorney and activist, known for his work on environmental protection, health advocacy, and political reform.
Sarah Chayes is a former journalist and policy expert who has studied corruption and governance. She focuses on how corruption fuels instability and global insecurity.
Johan Grillo is a journalist and author specializing in organized crime and cartel violence. He has reported extensively from Latin America on the impact of drug wars.
Michael McCaul is a U.S. congressman focused on national security and foreign policy. He has spoken widely on border control and counter-cartel strategies.
Sam Quinones is an author and journalist whose work examines the opioid crisis, community resilience, and the spread of fentanyl across North America.
Elon Musk is the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, and founder of multiple companies pushing the boundaries of technology. His work focuses on renewable energy, space exploration, and the survival of humanity.
Jane Goodall is a primatologist, conservationist, and UN Messenger of Peace. She is known for her groundbreaking research on chimpanzees and her lifelong advocacy for the environment.
Deepak Chopra is a physician, author, and spiritual teacher whose work bridges science, health, and spirituality. He focuses on consciousness, healing, and global well-being.
Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism and a global advocate for compassion, peace, and human unity.
Reverend Sun Myung Moon was the founder of the Unification Movement and a proponent of interfaith dialogue and the vision of humanity as one global family.
Lex Fridman is an AI researcher, podcaster, and thinker focused on intelligence, consciousness, and the future of humanity. He is widely known for his long-form conversations with scientists, technologists, and cultural leaders, exploring the deepest questions of human existence.
Joe Rogan is a comedian, commentator, and host of one of the world’s most influential podcasts. With a background in stand-up, martial arts, and cultural analysis, he brings humor, curiosity, and candor to complex conversations, making them accessible to a broad audience.
Leave a Reply