Joni McGary Talks with People

Conversations with interesting and inspiring people
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Joni McGary Talks with People is for anyone who's lost all faith in institutional narratives and theatrics and is wondering how to actually live well right now. Host Joni McGary (co-founded No College Mandates) has real conversations with researchers, doctors, writers, artists, and independent thinkers about everything from medical freedom and pandemic policies to beauty, craft, community, and what it means to rebuild relationships and society when trust has been crushed. It's thoughtful, relaxed, with no frenzied spin—just genuine talks with interesting people who know things. jonimcgary.substack.com

  1. Parables from the Pandemic: Mark Oshinskie on Storytelling and Living with Gratitude and Joy

    4D AGO

    Parables from the Pandemic: Mark Oshinskie on Storytelling and Living with Gratitude and Joy

    I had a wonderful conversation with Mark Oshinskie, a gifted storyteller and writer whom I consider a society rebuilder. He is the author of the Substack “Dispatches from a Scamdemic” and two books: Dispatches from a Scamdemic: Why the Lockdowns, Masks, Tests and Shots Were Wrong from the Beginning and Coronamania Chronicles: True Stories Revealing the Covid Lies. I started reading his work early in the pandemic and loved it because it was relatable and real. His stories were poignant and entertaining, yet serious enough to drive home that what was being done in the name of fear was very wrong, especially for young people. I was fortunate to meet Mark in person last year at a gathering at Polyface Farms and become friends in real life. We talk about his work, his life, and why he feels called to keep writing about what happened. Mark shares how he lives and why he’s always counting his blessings. I was moved by his wisdom and practice, and I think you’ll really enjoy this conversation. Find Mark’s Work: Substack: “Dispatches from a Scamdemic” To purchase his books, email Mark at forecheck32@gmail.com (They are terrific!) ************************************************************************************************************* Learn more about CrowdHealth: I’ve been spreading the word about a great company called CrowdHealth, an alternative to having health insurance. Check it out at JoinCrowdHealth.com If you join, use code JONI to get a discount on your first three months of membership. All referral fees will go to charity. There are no enrollment periods, so you can join any time. If you are tired of supporting the broken, consumer-hostile system of health insurance, check out CrowdHealth. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jonimcgary.substack.com

    1h 4m
  2. Dr. Mary Kelly Sutton's Fight for Doctor-Patient Autonomy

    FEB 10

    Dr. Mary Kelly Sutton's Fight for Doctor-Patient Autonomy

    Dr. Mary Kelly Sutton practiced integrative medicine for decades and was widely known as a compassionate, highly competent doctor and healer. She never had a patient complaint against her and indeed was beloved by her patients. Her practice was informed by her deeply held belief that a doctor should treat the patient in front of him or her without outside pressure, listen to and evaluate a patient carefully, and then to do what was in the patient’s best interest. Dr. Sutton’s ability to practice medicine came to a halt as a result her writing eight medical vaccine exemptions for California patients in 2015 and 2016, in full compliance with the law at the time. Five years later, the California Medical Board revoked her license, wrongly applying the standards of a law passed later. Dr. Sutton was then practicing in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts State Medical Board revoked her license through reciprocal discipline, even though the California case was improperly decided and she had violated no laws in the state. Dr. Sutton discusses the erosion of physician-patient autonomy, and how medical boards have become captured by dogma that interferes with their proper role A protectors of quality care. We talk about the importance of medical freedom and individual health sovereignty, and what she is doing now that she is unable to practice medicine. Dr. Sutton shares her philosophy on healing, hour we have natural resilience, and how to navigate our current healthcare system. (She offers a very useful course on this.) Her insights on finding meaning during tumult are profound and really moving. She is persuasive when she explains that our current challenges may be strengthening us for what’s ahead. Show Notes: Find Dr. Sutton: Dr. Sutton’s Website - A link to her classes is on the site. Physicians and Patients Reclaiming Medicine “We are an organization bringing together patients, medical professionals, and attorneys to defend medical rights and freedoms.” You can support the lawsuit discussed in episode at this website. Learn more about CrowdHealth: If you are sick of paying sky high premiums for health insurance, there is another way. Check out CrowdHealth to determine if it is right for you. Use code JONI if you join to get a discount on your first three months. All referral fees will go to charity. You can join at any time - there are no enrollment period restrictions. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jonimcgary.substack.com

    1h 3m
  3. Fighting for Liberty in New York State: A Lawyer's Stand Against Government Overreach

    FEB 3

    Fighting for Liberty in New York State: A Lawyer's Stand Against Government Overreach

    Prior to the COVID lockdowns, Bobbie Anne Cox's law practice focused mostly on real estate law. That changed abruptly when clients began seeking her help fighting for their rights during the severe restrictions imposed by then-Governor Cuomo in New York. Bobbie talks about her path from property law to fighting government overreach, including her landmark lawsuit against Governor Hochul's quarantine regulation. We discuss her campaign to educate New Yorkers about "Prop 1," a bill that was deceptively marketed to voters and unfortunately passed. We also revisit the tyrannical lockdowns in New York, the ongoing battle for civil liberties she has taken up, and why the 2026 state elections are critical for restoring two-party balance to a state increasingly dominated by New York City politics. Find Attorney Bobbie Anne Cox: Website: Cox Lawyers, LLC On Substack: Knowledge Is Power On X: https://x.com/Attorney_Cox Bobbie is a Brownstone Institute Fellow. Find her articles HERE. ************************************************************************************************************* Learn more about CrowdHealth: If you are sick of paying sky high premiums for health insurance, CrowdHealth is a great alternative. Check out CrowdHealth to determine if it is right for you. Use code JONI if you join to get a discount on your first three months. All referral fees will go to charity. You can join at any time - there are no enrollment period restrictions. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jonimcgary.substack.com

    52 min
  4. Standing Up for Truth in Medicine: My Conversation with Dr. Mary Talley Bowden

    JAN 27

    Standing Up for Truth in Medicine: My Conversation with Dr. Mary Talley Bowden

    I sat down with the formidable Dr. Mary Talley Bowden, a Houston-based ENT doctor who was thrust onto the national stage for speaking out about what she was observing in her private practice during COVID, namely that the shots were not working and that ivermectin was. Houston Methodist Hospital suspended her hospital privileges and denounced her on X as a “dangerous spreader of misinformation” even though Dr. Bowden had never admitted a patient there. She walked me through her lawsuit against the hospital for defamation and how she was reprimanded by the Texas Medical Board in what appeared to be a politically motivated action designed to make an example of a doctor who questioned the COVID narrative. (I read the transcripts and found them troubling.) Dr. Bowden has now joined with three other physicians who had similar experiences with state medical boards in a lawsuit against those boards and the Federation of State Medical Boards for violating the First and Fourteenth Amendments over disciplinary actions taken against doctors who expressed concerns about the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine. Besides her obvious grace under so much pressure, what struck me most was Dr. Bowden’s commitment to patient care and informed consent, even when it cost her professionally and personally. She has gone on to form Americans For Health Freedom, an organization whose mission is to encourage and educate the public and our representatives to champion medical freedom for every individual. This conversation offers a window into what happened to many doctors who questioned the mainstream COVID narrative. Plus, we end on a lighter note as Dr. Bowden reveals her surprising therapy for navigating the current chaotic landscape… roller coasters. (Yes, really.) Show Notes: Find Dr. Bowden Dr. Bowden on Substack Dr. Bowden on X Physicians and Patients Reclaiming Medicine (Here you can learn more about and support the lawsuit against the Federation Medical Boards) Her soon to be released book: Dangerous Misinformation: The Virus, the Treatments, and the Lies Americans for Health Freedom ************************************************************************************************************* About CrowdHealth I discuss CrowdHealth in the episode intro. It’s a crowdfunding alternative to traditional health insurance that I recently joined myself after breaking up with my insurance company. If you’re struggling with high premiums and sky-high deductibles or want an alternative to the current broken system, check it out HERE and use code JONI for a discount on your first three months. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jonimcgary.substack.com

    51 min
  5. Breaking Up with Health Insurance: A Chat With CrowdHealth CEO Andy Schoonover

    JAN 20

    Breaking Up with Health Insurance: A Chat With CrowdHealth CEO Andy Schoonover

    I recently did something that not too long ago I would have considered unthinkable: I quit buying health insurance. Instead of remaining in a corrupt, over-priced, inefficient and consumer-hostile system, I joined CrowdHealth. The more I learned about it, the more enthusiastic I became—so much so that I reached out to ask if their CEO would come on my podcast. Within days, we’d scheduled a time to record. Can you imagine me getting the CEO of my last health insurance company on the show? Yeah, me neither. In this episode, I sit down with Andy Schoonover, CEO and founder of CrowdHealth, to ask all my questions about how this alternative actually works. Andy brings a fascinating background: he holds an MBA from Stanford, transformed a company in the health care space, and had a personal bad experience with his own health insurer that led him to create something better. Andy answers my questions about CrowdHealth, shares his take on the current state of health insurance, and explains where he sees it going. His vision is that CrowdHealth will be a major force for good—and I agree. What struck me most wasn’t just the model itself—though it is terrific and works—but the company ethos. They genuinely care about their customers and work to align company goals with member needs. Andy explains why transparency and simplicity are core values at CrowdHealth and what it means to build a system that actually serves its members rather than shareholders. Whether you’re frustrated with your current insurance, curious about alternatives, or just want to understand how someone is actively disrupting this space, Andy offers both practical insights and genuine inspiration. This conversation will open your mind to what’s possible—and it’s quite thrilling. If you decide to join CrowdHealth, use the link in the show notes or code “JONI” to save on your first three months of membership. All referral fees I receive will be donated to charity. Learn More/Join CrowdHealth (Use this link or code JONI to save on your first three months) Andy Schoonover LinkedIn CrowdHealth on X This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jonimcgary.substack.com

    1h 6m
  6. How the Fed Made Covid Lockdowns Possible: An Austrian Economics Perspective

    12/30/2025

    How the Fed Made Covid Lockdowns Possible: An Austrian Economics Perspective

    I sit down with Steve Berger, former Mises Institute Board member and a passionate student of Austrian economics. He views the COVID era through a refreshingly different lens. Instead of rehashing the usual debates over data or narratives, Steve looks at lockdowns, mandates, and vaccine rollout as symptoms of deeper economic distortions: the Federal Reserve’s ability to print trillions with impunity, the crony capitalism of public-private partnerships, and the moral hazard created by liability shields for pharmaceutical companies. We discuss why massive societal shutdowns were only politically and economically feasible because of the Fed’s money-creation backstop, how a true free market would have produced very different and far less damaging outcomes, and why regulatory capture and centralized control usually serve entrenched interests rather than the public. Steve opened my mind to consider the hidden economic forces that shaped the catastrophic Covid response. I’m delighted to share it with you. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jonimcgary.substack.com

    1h 9m
  7. A Holiday Toast with Monica Perez

    12/17/2025

    A Holiday Toast with Monica Perez

    Monica Perez joined me to raise a glass (or two) with me this holiday season and have a light-hearted conversation. We had some fun but of course we couldn’t resist a few substantive topics. We dig in to the broken health insurance landscape and whether a crowd-sourcing alternative might be the way to go. Monica catches us up on how rebuilding is going in fire-ravaged Altadena, where she lives in a house that didn’t burn down. We banter about whether individuals can really make a difference on a state or local level and if there is any hope of change at the federal level. Pour yourself a glass of wine or a soothing cup of tea and settle in for a very nice chat. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. And by the way, if you are enjoying this podcast, please share it with a friend and consider dropping a review on Apple podcasts or Spotify. Thanks! Find Monica! https://monicaperezshow.com/ https://linktr.ee/monicaperezshow Rumble: https://rumble.com/user/monicaperezshow Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MonicaPerez Twitter/X: @monicaperezshow Substack: https://substack.com/@monicaperezshow Instagram: @monicaperezshow Monica Mixes: Craft cocktail recipes and lively conversation for the home mixer My old cocktail blog: http://bloomingcocktails.blogspot.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jonimcgary.substack.com

    1h 30m
  8. The Broken State of Medicine with Dr. Allon Friedman

    12/10/2025

    The Broken State of Medicine with Dr. Allon Friedman

    Dr. Allon Friedman pulls no punches about what he has seen over twenty years in academic medicine. He speaks candidly about the negative impact of DEI ideology on medical education and practice, the erosion of merit-based standards in physician training, and the loss of physician autonomy to massive corporate healthcare systems. He addresses the silence among his colleagues regarding COVID lockdowns and mandates, and tells of the personal cost of speaking up in an environment that discourages it. We also touch on the use of GLP-1 agonists to treat obesity and other conditions. Learn why Dr. Friedman calls this drug class “a cure for modern living” and why he’s optimistic about their potential to treat multiple diseases. Medicine needs more physicians like Dr. Friedman—willing to speak up and advocate for the reforms necessary to restore sanity and good patient care. Find Dr. Friedman’s work: Professor of Medicine at Indiana University Medical School Profile Publications list on PubMed Essays at Brownstone Institute This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jonimcgary.substack.com

    1h 10m
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Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Joni McGary Talks with People is for anyone who's lost all faith in institutional narratives and theatrics and is wondering how to actually live well right now. Host Joni McGary (co-founded No College Mandates) has real conversations with researchers, doctors, writers, artists, and independent thinkers about everything from medical freedom and pandemic policies to beauty, craft, community, and what it means to rebuild relationships and society when trust has been crushed. It's thoughtful, relaxed, with no frenzied spin—just genuine talks with interesting people who know things. jonimcgary.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Conversations with interesting and inspiring people
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    26
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Joni McGary
  • Show Website
    Joni McGary Talks with People