Finding Freedom

John Odermatt
  • 5.0 (21)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

Finding Freedom is a long-form podcast focused on entrepreneurship, health, and politics, featuring in-depth conversations with independent thinkers, business owners, researchers, and cultural critics. Hosted by John Odermatt, the show explores how centralized institutions, corporate power, and political narratives impact personal freedom, health, and economic opportunity. Episodes cover entrepreneurship and financial independence, health and wellness, medical freedom, government overreach, media bias, culture, and faith. Guests range from entrepreneurs and medical professionals to academics and journalists. Finding Freedom is designed for listeners who value long-form discussion, intellectual honesty, and practical insights into building a healthier, freer, and more resilient life.

  1. Sep 1

    Sandusky: The Recantation, the Hearing, and the Truth with John Ziegler

    The Jerry Sandusky case is back in the national spotlight after reports that "Victim 10" Ryan Rittmeyer plans to recant his trial testimony at an upcoming evidentiary hearing. Journalist John Ziegler, who has spent over a decade investigating the case and is the only person to have interviewed Rittmeyer since the trial, argues that the alleged recantation is deeply compromised and that the hearing could backfire disastrously on Sandusky's defense. Ziegler reveals that investigator Frank Parlato developed a deeply conflicted relationship with Rittmeyer — including housing him, arranging a documentary contract, and introducing him to a girlfriend — fatally undermining any credibility the recantation might have had. The episode also covers why accusers who knew Sandusky well are less likely to recant, how to open skeptical minds to re-examining the case, and why federal court may be the only remaining path to justice. Chapters: 0:00 — Intro & Why the Sandusky Case Is Back in the News 3:52 — The Media Frenzy Around the Alleged Recantation 9:05 — Who Is Victim 10? Ryan Rittmeyer's Story 12:30 — The Prosecution's Flawed Strategy 18:21 — Jerry Sandusky Is No Criminal Mastermind 21:26 — The Chad Dubin & Frank Parlato Recantation Effort 28:07 — Inside Ziegler's Bizarre Interview with Ryan Rittmeyer 44:17 — Best & Worst Case Scenarios for the Evidentiary Hearing 52:45 — How to Open People's Minds About the Case 59:49 — The Path Forward: Federal Court & Closing Thoughts With the Benefit of Hindsight Podcast: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/with-the-benefit-of-hindsight/id1562078872⁠ Link to All Finding Freedom/Felony Friday episodes on Jerry Sandusky scandal: ⁠https://www.lionsofliberty.com/sandusky-scandal⁠ Support us on Patreon: ⁠https://patreon.com/lionsofliberty⁠ Support us on Locals: ⁠https://lionsofliberty.locals.com/⁠ Subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen – it makes a huge difference! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Sandusky: The Recantation, the Hearing, and the Truth with John Ziegler

  2. Aug 25

    The Lost Generation: How DEI Drove Men Out of the American Workforce

    This episode examines the declining male labor force participation rate in America, which has fallen to its lowest level since 1948, with roughly one in three men no longer working or seeking work. While mainstream explanations point to manufacturing decline, an aging population, and the opioid crisis, host John Odermatt argues that a decade of DEI policies has systematically pushed men—especially white men—out of industries across corporate America, academia, media, and tech. Drawing on Jacob Savage's viral Compact Magazine article "The Lost Generation" and survey data from hiring managers themselves, the episode presents sector-by-sector evidence of documented hiring discrimination. Odermatt shares his own experience of being pushed out of corporate America and reframes the crisis not as a story of victimhood, but as a call for men to build income streams they control—through entrepreneurship, skilled trades, and commission-based work. The episode closes with a challenge to listeners: stop building your life on a foundation someone else can pull out from under you. Video Chapters 0:00 - The Hook: One in Three Men Are Not Working 1:10 - Welcome to Finding Freedom 2:09 - The Mainstream Explanation: Manufacturing, Opioids & Aging 3:03 - The DEI Explanation: What the Media Won't Say 3:32 - The Raw Numbers: Labor Force Participation Data 6:42 - Jacob Savage's "The Lost Generation" Article 8:18 - Sector-by-Sector: TV, Medicine, Academia, Tech & Media 11:22 - What Hiring Managers Admit: The Survey Data 13:45- The Fallout: Opioids, Video Games & Walking Away 16:07 - The Real Lesson: Build Your Own Escape & Closing Sources: The Lost Generation — Jacob Savage, Compact Magazine: ⁠compactmag.com/article/the-lost-generation⁠ What's Really Going On With Men and Work — American Institute for Boys and Men: ⁠aibm.org/research/whats-really-going-on-with-men-and-work-7-facts⁠ 1 in 6 Hiring Managers Have Been Told to Stop Hiring White Men — ResumeBuilder.com: ⁠resumebuilder.com/1-in-6-hiring-managers-have-been-told-to-stop-hiring-white-men⁠ DEI and the Lost Generation — Christopher Rufo: ⁠christopherrufo.com/p/dei-and-the-lost-generation⁠ Men's Falling Labor Force Participation Across Generations — San Francisco Fed: ⁠frbsf.org/research-and-insights/publications/economic-letter/2023/10/mens-falling-labor-force-participation-across-generations⁠ Schedule a 15 minute Gut Health Audit with John: https://calendar.app.google/B9fcGdSFjC5caTVu5 SUPPORT LIONS OF LIBERTY: Help keep this podcast going! We rely on listener support to continue bringing you content on freedom, political reform, and personal empowerment.  Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/lionsofliberty Support us on Locals: https://lionsofliberty.locals.com/ Subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen – it makes a huge difference! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    The Lost Generation: How DEI Drove Men Out of the American Workforce

  3. Aug 17

    No Family Should Have to Cross an Ocean to Save Their Child with Kendra Riley

    Kendra Riley's two daughters were diagnosed with metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD), a rare terminal genetic disorder. With no FDA-approved treatment available in the U.S., Kendra's family had to raise nearly half a million dollars and relocate to Italy so their youngest daughter could receive a life-saving gene therapy. While that treatment succeeded, their older daughter's disease had progressed too far — she is now in hospice care at age eight. Kendra joins Finding Freedom to advocate for Right to Try 2.0, federal legislation that would give rare disease patients access to individualized gene-based therapies at home without crossing an ocean. She also shares advice for families navigating rare disease diagnoses and resources that can help along the way. Video Chapters: 0:00 — Intro & Guest Introduction 3:19 — The MLD Diagnosis 4:55 — Moving to Italy for Gene Therapy 6:43 — Right to Try 2.0 Explained 8:07 — Two Daughters, Two Outcomes 13:53 — Advice for Rare Disease Families 17:32 — How to Help & Where to Follow Links: Kendra's family blog: rileysroad.com Instagram: @MrsKendraRiley Right to Try 2.0 — introduced by Sen. Ron Johnson (WI) and Rep. Diana Harshbarger (TN) Goldwater Institute — lead organization behind Right to Try 2.0 MLD Foundation — resources for metachromatic leukodystrophy Armer Foundation for Kids — financial assistance for families of children with life-threatening illnesses Contact your representatives: House.gov | Senate.gov Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    No Family Should Have to Cross an Ocean to Save Their Child with Kendra Riley

  4. Aug 10

    Watched from the Cradle to the Cubicle

    While most Americans are rightly concerned about government surveillance — license plate readers, Flock cameras, the deep state — a quieter and more intimate surveillance culture has taken root at home and at work. Employers are deploying AI to scan employee Slack messages, monitor productivity keystroke by keystroke, and flag tone and sentiment across billions of internal messages. At the same time, parents are tracking their teenagers' every move through apps like Life360 and Apple's Find My, often without stopping to ask whether they're solving a real threat or just following social pressure. Host John Odermatt argues that we've begun replacing trust with tracking — and the most unsettling part is that most people don't realize they're actively participating in building that culture. This episode is a call to examine your own role in the surveillance ecosystem, take ownership of your choices, and start having the harder, more honest conversations that actually build trust. Video Chapters 0:00 – Intro: The Surveillance We're Not Talking About 1:03 – Welcome & Solo Show Setup 1:34 – Government Surveillance vs. Private Surveillance 4:48 – Salesforce, Slack, and AI Monitoring at Work 8:36 – Revisiting the David Deane Interview: AI as a Mirror? 9:40 – Family Surveillance: Life360, Find My & Tracking Your Kids 10:37 – The Research: What Constant Tracking Does to Teenagers 16:57 – Flock Cameras & the Government Surveillance Fight 20:19 – The Collapse of Trust: Edelman Trust Barometer Data 22:01 – What You Can Actually Do About It Schedule a 15 minute Gut Health Audit with John: https://calendar.app.google/B9fcGdSFjC5caTVu5 SUPPORT LIONS OF LIBERTY: Help keep this podcast going! We rely on listener support to continue bringing you content on freedom, political reform, and personal empowerment.  Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/lionsofliberty Support us on Locals: https://lionsofliberty.locals.com/ Subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen – it makes a huge difference! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Watched from the Cradle to the Cubicle

  5. Aug 4

    FF: Why Most Small Business Branding Is Quietly Killing Their Marketing with Amber Andrews

    Most founders build their brand around what looks good instead of what actually works — and it's quietly sabotaging their marketing. In this episode, John sits down with Amber Andrews, founder of Andrews Artistry, to unpack why looking good and being clear aren't the same thing. Amber breaks down the real difference between a brand and a brand system, the biggest mistakes founders make when picking colors and building identity, and why she believes AI should never be used to design a logo. They also dig into when it's time to invest in professional branding and why staying authentically human beats a polished, AI-sounding brand every time. Show Sponsor: Jason Gagne’s Good2GoBody 90-day beginner fitness program - ⁠https://good2go.podia.com/?coupon=LIONSJOHN⁠ Chapters: 1:13 – Welcome & guest introduction 2:55 – Amber's background and path to founding Andrews Artistry 3:36 – Corporate vs. founder branding 7:06 – Common branding mistakes founders make 9:56 – What is a "brand system" vs. just a brand? 16:20 – When should you invest in professional branding? 21:03 – The role (and misuse) of AI in branding 25:04 – Showing up authentically without being the face of your brand 39:36 – Where to find Amber and get her free brand guide Links: Andrews Artistry: https://andrewsartistry.com/ Andrews Artistry Page for Listeners: https://andrewsartistry.com/podbrand/ Schedule a 15 minute Gut Health Audit with John: https://calendar.app.google/B9fcGdSFjC5caTVu5 SUPPORT LIONS OF LIBERTY: Help keep this podcast going! We rely on listener support to continue bringing you content on freedom, political reform, and personal empowerment.  Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/lionsofliberty Support us on Locals: https://lionsofliberty.locals.com/ Subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen – it makes a huge difference! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    FF: Why Most Small Business Branding Is Quietly Killing Their Marketing with Amber Andrews

  6. Jul 27

    Neurosurgeon Turned Regenerative Medicine Pioneer Dr. Jeff Gross on Peptides, Stem Cells, and Healing from Within

    Dr. Jeff Gross, a board-certified neurosurgeon and founder of Recelebrate, joins the show to demystify peptides and regenerative medicine. He explains how frustration with the traditional healthcare system pushed him from surgery toward cellular-level healing, and breaks down what peptides actually are, why "FDA approved" is widely misunderstood, and how stem cells and exosomes work in the body. The conversation covers real-world applications — from joint and cartilage regeneration to Parkinson's symptom relief and mitochondrial repair with peptides like SS-31 and MOTS-C. Dr. Gross also tackles misconceptions around legality, telehealth treatment options, and how to vet a regenerative medicine clinic. It's a wide-ranging, myth-busting conversation for anyone curious about the future of longevity and healing. Chapters: 0:00 – Introduction & sponsor message 2:37 – Meet Dr. Jeff Gross 4:18 – From surgery to regenerative medicine 12:43 – What exactly is a peptide? 22:22 – Types of stem cells and what's legal in the U.S. 25:56 – Stem cells and Parkinson's treatment 28:22 – Cartilage regeneration and joint pain 31:14 – Finding a trustworthy regenerative medicine clinic 35:23 – Mitochondrial peptides (SS-31, MOTS-C) 41:15 – Where to find Recelebrate Show Sponsor: Jason Gagne’s Good2GoBody 90-day beginner fitness program - ⁠https://good2go.podia.com/?coupon=LIONSJOHN⁠ Links: Learn more: https://recellebrate.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  7. Jul 20

    AI Isn't Taking Your Job — It's Exposing How Your Company Actually Runs with David Dean

    Everyone's worried about AI taking their jobs — but David Dean, enterprise technologist and author of An Inbox Between Us, argues that's the wrong fear entirely. In this episode, David explains how AI is really acting as a mirror, exposing the "unwritten contract" of how organizations actually function beneath their official processes and org charts. He and John dig into why authenticity and transparency are becoming non-negotiable for leaders as behavioral patterns become newly discoverable, why lived experience and judgment are things AI will never replicate, and why real AI adoption starts with organizational (and personal) self-discovery rather than new tools. It's a refreshingly grounded take on AI in the workplace — less about replacement, more about revelation. Chapters 0:00 – Cold open: AI as a mirror, not a job-killer 1:19 – About David Dean's new book and audiobook 1:46 – Intro to Finding Freedom & episode setup 2:15 – Sponsor: Jason Gagne's Good To-Go Body program 3:27 – Welcoming David Dean 4:30 – Why David wrote An Inbox Between Us 7:18 – AI as an organizational mirror: the official vs. unwritten contract 13:38 – Why the spreadsheet is the ultimate "unwritten contract" artifact 25:12 – Authenticity, accountability, and the end of claiming ignorance 31:54 – Advice for entrepreneurs and small business owners 39:23 – The single most important thing to do to thrive with AI Show Sponsor: Jason Gagne’s Good2GoBody 90-day beginner fitness program - ⁠⁠https://good2go.podia.com/?coupon=LIONSJOHN⁠⁠ Links Website: ⁠https://www.davidchristopherdean.com/⁠ Book: ⁠https://www.davidchristopherdean.com/book/⁠ Buy on Amazon: ⁠https://amzn.to/4bU5OFZ⁠ Schedule a 15 minute Gut Health Audit with John: ⁠https://calendar.app.google/B9fcGdSFjC5caTVu5⁠ SUPPORT LIONS OF LIBERTY: Help keep this podcast going! We rely on listener support to continue bringing you content on freedom, political reform, and personal empowerment.  Support us on Patreon: ⁠https://patreon.com/lionsofliberty⁠ Support us on Locals: ⁠https://lionsofliberty.locals.com/⁠ Subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen – it makes a huge difference! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    AI Isn't Taking Your Job — It's Exposing How Your Company Actually Runs with David Dean

  8. Jul 13

    The System is the Problem: Clarence Carter on Why America's Safety Net Keeps People Poor

    For 30 years, Clarence Carter worked inside America's public assistance system under two presidents, four governors, and a mayor. In this episode, he joins John Odermatt to explain why the safety net designed to lift people out of poverty often keeps them trapped instead, and what a better system could look like. Carter draws on his three decades of experience — including transforming Washington DC's homeless services program and leading welfare reform in Virginia — to argue that the problem isn't a lack of funding, but a lack of clear purpose. He walks through the 114 federal programs that make up the safety net, why they measure compliance instead of outcomes, and what it would take to build a system focused on growing people beyond dependency rather than managing it. Along the way, he shares personal stories, from handing out apartment keys to former shelter residents to a welfare recipient's tearful first paycheck, that illustrate what real freedom from the system looks like, and makes the case for a whole-of-society approach involving government, business, faith communities, and everyday citizens. Show Sponsor: Jason Gagne’s Good2GoBody 90-day beginner fitness program - ⁠https://good2go.podia.com/?coupon=LIONSJOHN⁠ Chapters: 0:00 – Introduction 0:58 – Sponsor message & guest introduction 3:18 – Why Clarence stayed 30 years in public service 4:11 – Transforming DC's homeless program 10:48 – The core problem: a system with no clear objective 15:37 – Can government solve this alone? 24:45 – Reimagining the safety net from scratch 34:14 – Building bipartisan support 38:13 – What keeps Clarence going after 30+ years 43:45 – The Wizard of Oz story & closing thoughts Book: Our Net Has Holes in It by Clarence H. Carter — available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4vW3syo Schedule a 15 minute Gut Health Audit with John: https://calendar.app.google/B9fcGdSFjC5caTVu5 SUPPORT LIONS OF LIBERTY: Help keep this podcast going! We rely on listener support to continue bringing you content on freedom, political reform, and personal empowerment.  Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/lionsofliberty Support us on Locals: https://lionsofliberty.locals.com/ Subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen – it makes a huge difference! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    The System is the Problem: Clarence Carter on Why America's Safety Net Keeps People Poor
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5
out of 5
21 Ratings

About

Finding Freedom is a long-form podcast focused on entrepreneurship, health, and politics, featuring in-depth conversations with independent thinkers, business owners, researchers, and cultural critics. Hosted by John Odermatt, the show explores how centralized institutions, corporate power, and political narratives impact personal freedom, health, and economic opportunity. Episodes cover entrepreneurship and financial independence, health and wellness, medical freedom, government overreach, media bias, culture, and faith. Guests range from entrepreneurs and medical professionals to academics and journalists. Finding Freedom is designed for listeners who value long-form discussion, intellectual honesty, and practical insights into building a healthier, freer, and more resilient life.

Information

  • Creator
    John Odermatt
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    265
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Show Website
    Finding Freedom