The Bart Baggett Show: The World’s Most Interesting People Podcast Bart Baggett

“America’s moving, in my opinion, in a bad direction,” says today’s guest, Roman Balmakov, director of the new documentary “No Farmers, No Food: Will You Eat Bugs?” As a reporter with the Epoch Times, founded by Chinese immigrants to counter the narrative of the Chinese Communist Party-controlled media, he joins the Bart Baggett show to discuss media bias and the current state of American journalism.
 
Roman describes a new era where many journalists see themselves not as impartial purveyors of information but as “gladiators in the arena.” This shift began with omitting suicides from the news to protect readers and has evolved into journalists suppressing information they deem harmful. When media outlets encounter content they disagree with, they often ostracize it using the same accusations and language, regardless of its relevance.
 
How will the media respond to Roman’s own movie, produced by EpochTV, which Bart calls “Netflix for thinking people”? The film explores the U.N.’s war on small farmers under the guise of fighting climate change.
 
Tune in to today’s episode as Roman and Bart discuss immigrant success, the role of entertainers in truth-telling, and whether we might all be subsisting on bugs in the near future.
 
Quotes
“Yeah, one of my close friends was born in Ukraine, just a few miles from Chernobyl. And he said, if the winds were different, he would not be here. You know, and luckily his family got out and they came here to America and he loves it. He's rich...very rich. Isn't it great to come to this country and to be rich?” (1:14 | Bart Baggett)
“OK, so let's go back to the worst-case scenario. If you're in a dictatorship country and/or Poland in the 60s…this whole Communist thing. It's going to make you unmotivated. Because if you do, do well, even in the socialist countries in Sweden in the 70s, if you did really, really well, they taxed you at 90%, if I’m not incorrect in my math. I get that. When all of a sudden you're free, and there's not a gun pointed at your head, and you can start a business, you can start a carwash, you can start anything you want, that's like coming out of prison.” (2:43 | Bart Baggett)
“I think the media here is biased. And only in the past few years have we seen that the media has been a little bit bought and paid for in some segments.” (6:10 | Bart Baggett) 
“If you saw the movie, well, the movie is kind of its own thing. This is a story that actually happened. But then you look at all these media outlets, one after the other, putting out these stories. And you're and you just kind of left to wonder, ‘Why all of a sudden, are they all, in unison, framing the story this way?” (11:11 | Roman Balkamov) 
 
Learn more and subscribe to the Bart Baggett’s Show The World’s Most Interesting People Fan Weekly Newsletter at https://thebartshow.com 
 
Links
Connect with Roman Balmakov: 
https://www.instagram.com/facts.matter.roman
https://www.tiktok.com/@.epoch.times.roman
https://www.youtube.com/@FactsMatterRoman
https://www.facebook.com/FactsMatterRoman/
 
Connect with Bart Baggett
https://instagram.com/bartbaggett
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“Everyone knows a sex worker,” says Ariela Moscowitz, but due to shame, stigma, and the associated risks, “nobody wants to talk about it.” As the director of communications at Decriminalize Sex Work, Ariela advocates for the removal of all criminal and civil penalties for consensual adult sex work. Additionally, the organization opposes a regulatory model gaining traction in the United States.
 
The ‘demand equality model,’ despite its name, decriminalizes the selling of sex but not the buying of it, in an attempt to reduce demand. This creates a power imbalance between workers and clients and exposes workers to significant rights and privacy violations. Supported by feminists who otherwise champion bodily autonomy, this model is based on the belief that all sex work is inherently exploitative and that sex workers need to be “saved.”
 
Ariela points out that human trafficking, a popular issue for politicians seeking voter approval, occurs predominantly outside the sex work industry.
 
In this episode, Ariela shares her journey in advocating for sex workers’ rights and recounts a woman’s story that highlights the devastating consequences of criminalizing sex work and the varied, often surprising reasons people enter the industry.
 
Quotes
“We don't want to see people saddled with criminal records for something they choose to do of their own volition with another adult in the privacy of their own home. And also, we know that decriminalizing consensual sex work is the best way to combat trafficking and exploitation in the sex industry.” (2:19 | Ariela Moscowitz)
“But they're still existing in a criminalized arena. And when you're dependent on somebody who is nervous about getting arrested, they hold all the cards. So, where I started was, we have two goals: we want to decriminalize consensual adult sex work, and we want to fight this, I’ll call it “the equality model,” even though that drives me wild because there's nothing equal about the equality model…a lot of second wave feminists, the same folks who fight for bodily autonomy as it relates to abortion, but not as it relates to sex work, have decided that all sex work is inherently exploitative. We know that it's not. So, they want to ‘save’ these women who they also want to have autonomy. It's all inherently contradictory.” (6:18 | Ariela Moscowitz) 
“You know, it's generous to say they're well intentioned, but are hastily written, slapped together laws that are really solutions in search of a problem. So, they can say, ‘Hey, guys. Look what I did about trafficking,’ while they did nothing for trafficking, and everything to hurt consensual adult sex workers. In 2018,...SESTA/FOSTA basically fundamentally changed the way the internet works…platforms can't be held liable for what folks post on them. That's what shut down Backpage.” (14:26 | Ariela Moscowitz)
“A lot of the structures we have in place in this society, really leave a lot of people out in the cold…you think laws are really written to keep you safe…and they actually make things more dangerous for people, which is what the criminalization of sex work does.” (17:38 | Ariela Moscovitz) 
 
Links
Learn more and subscribe to the Bart Baggett’s Show The World’s Most Interesting People Fan Weekly Newsletter at https://thebartshow.com 
 
Connect with Ariela Moscowitz:
https://www.decriminalizesex.work
https://www.instagram.com/decrimsexwork
https://www.tiktok.com/decrimsex
 
Connect with Bart Baggett
https://instagram.com/bartbaggett
https://www.instagram.com/bartshowpodcast/
https://www.youtube.com/@bartshowpodcast
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“We always want to put people in categories,” says Mark Skousen, “if we believe in individualism, let’s treat everyone as an individual.” Mark, the founder of Freedomfest, clarifies that the event is not just a political conference for Libertarians but a “renaissance gathering” for people from all backgrounds who value thinking and living freely. On today’s episode of The Bart Baggett Show, Mark explains libertarianism beyond political affiliation and why freedom is the cornerstone of all societal systems.
 
Mark, a world-renowned economist, author, and professor, asserts that money and freedom are interconnected. He cites examples like Benjamin Franklin and Arnold Schwarzenegger, who built wealth and invested wisely to live life on their own terms.
 
Mark will discuss what makes a nation economically prosperous, draw parallels between a parent’s relationship with a child and a government’s relationship with its citizens, and argue why the U.S. should move away from the two-party system.
 
Despite societal challenges, Mark is optimistic about the upcoming generation’s willingness to learn and engage. Tune in to learn more about this year’s Freedomfest and how you can get discounted tickets with Bart’s help for a limited time. Coupon code “BART50” https://www.freedomfest.com
 
Quotes
“When children are young, they’re dependent on their parents for their livelihood, for their education and so forth. Unfortunately, that’s been translated too often to the government saying, ‘You’re all children and therefore we have to take care of you, your food, your medical expenses, your retirement and so forth.’ And that’s a danger.”  (2:32 | Mark Skousen)
“It’s not so much a political seminar. I first thought, ‘It’s a Libertarian conference,’ but that’s not my impression now, Mark. I feel like it’s people who love freedom, who want to experience—they have different social issues, some have very specific agendas, and some like me are just going, ‘Wow, maybe I can learn something.’...Well, that’s the problem—I don’t think you can pinpoint at ‘average’—everybody is so different. We always want to put people in categories and really I think, if we believe in individualism, let’s treat everybody as an individual.” (14:22 | Bart Baggett and Mark Skousen) 
“I see the Libertarians as those who favor maximum liberty within the rule of law and within a robust competitive economy or model, if you will, maximum liberty.” (19:22 | Mark Skousen)
“I’m really worried about our legal system and what is being taught in law schools. And we’re starting to see that now and this thing against Trump…we’ve had criminal justice reform, which I think overall has been good, but I do think if you become a target, they can use the law to go after you and you can’t get representation and you can’t get a judge that’s really fair.” (29:37 | Mark Skousen)
“How do you personally become wealthy, how does a nation become prosperous: it’s all the same thing. You live within your means, you save regularly, you invest the savings productively in a business or in the stock market which is other people’s businesses. And a nation’s the same thing.” (38:05 | Mark Skousen) 
 
Links
Save $50 on attending Freedomfest in Las Vegas in 2024.
Coupon code “BART50” https://www.freedomfest.com
 
Learn more and subscribe to the Bart Baggett’s Show The World’s Most Interesting People Fan Weekly Newsletter at https://thebartshow.com 
 
Links
Connect with Mark Skousen:
https://www.mskousen.com 
https://www.freedomfest.com
 
Connect with Bart Baggett
https://instagram.com/bartbaggett
https://www.instagram.com/bartshowpodcast/
https://www.youtube.com/@bartshowpodcast
https://bartbaggett.com
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“Moral of the story: be so good at what you do that not even attempted murder will hold you back.” Comedian Brittany Hunter is very good at the many things she does, including creating the content for a major nonprofit law firm which hired her despite genuinely believing that she had tried to stab her ex-husband. 
 
She never actually did—though she admits to lying to avoiding getting into trouble, so perhaps we’ll never know. This was just one of many persistent rumors that arose from a live-Tweet tirade she went on throughout her messy divorce. 
 
Brittany’s approach to revenge is much more psychological than physical. She explains how she undermines the dreams and careers of her ex-boyfriends—several DJs and even a professional magician— in retaliation for their cheating on her and ignoring her. She tells the story of setting the precedent for text harassment laws in her native Utah while still in high school. 
 
It all contributes to her personal brand of “trauma-dy,” a taste of which she serves up on today’s episode of The Bart Baggett Show. Tune in to learn what her sloppy cursive reveals about her and how she sets herself apart in a sea full of ‘Brittanys.” It is pronounced BRIT-TI-NEY… but she will answer to any version as long as you call. 
 
Quotes
“I work at a nonprofit law firm. We have like 17 Supreme Court wins. I am not a lawyer. I'm a college dropout, not a lawyer. I do content. I’m a writer, first and foremost, so I storytell about the clients whom we represent, so I get to interview them, do all that. And surprisingly, all my coworkers and the general counsel of our firm are coming to see me tomorrow. I have done comedy in front of them. They hired me thinking I killed– or tried to kill–my ex husband.” (3:11 | Brittany Hunter) 
“I've never tried to stab anyone. First of all I’m a good shot, so if I would have tried to stab him, I would have stabbed him. You’re calling me a bad stabber. I follow things through. I follow through. If I wanted to murder him, he’d be dead. I’m a finisher.” (5:16 | Brittany Hunter and Bart Baggett)
“My first criminal record started when I was 18 years old. I was the precedent in Utah for text messaging harassment. Text messaging had been out one year. I texted my high school ex-boyfriend, who cheated on me, 200 times a day, every day, for two months until the police came. That is some persistence. It was persistence. It was hard work.” (11:52 | Brittany Hunter)
 
Links
Learn more and subscribe to the Bart Baggett’s Show The World’s Most Interesting People Fan Weekly Newsletter at https://thebartshow.com 
 
Links
Connect with Brittany Hunter:
https://www.instagram.com/brit_the_wit
https://www.tiktok.com/brittanyehunt
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4RwOhjX68nb7iYCFCAbtOA
https://www.instagram.com/britt_the_wit/

Connect with Bart Baggett
https://instagram.com/bartbaggett
https://www.instagram.com/bartshowpodcast/
https://www.youtube.com/@bartshowpodcast
https://bartbaggett.com
https://www.tiktok.com/@bartbaggett
https://x.com/bartbaggett
 
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“Community is everything,” says today’s guest Larry Sharpe, a business consultant, entrepreneur and Libertarian political activist. Growing up with a single mother who was an addict and a felon, Larry learned first-hand that the government is not here to help you. In fact, it might be working to keep you down once you fall. On today’s episode of The Bart Baggett Show, he explains the importance of what he calls “ownership mindset” as the only way to truly build wealth and why community is its centerpiece.
 
After graduating from the Marine Corps, he went into sales with the intent of making money, only to realize that he was the only one not profiting from his success. He explains why immigrant families who come to the U.S. are intent on owning something, and how they build community around it. He explains the root of capitalism, responsibility, and even  why devoutly religious people make the best employees.  Larry even covers  how to support nonprofits while keeping your money safe from the government’s greedy hands. 
 
Larry learned a lot by losing it all and building it back from scratch.  He dispels the difference between guilt-based social conditioning in the West and shame-based conditioning in the East.  This episode is a delicious blend of psychology, politics, and capitalism.
 
Join today’s episode of the Bart Baggett show the powerful and business savvy Larry Sharpe.  Larry ran for governor in 2022 and continues to be dedicated to libertarian free ideas through community, business, and politics.
 
Quotes 
“Well, you can if you look at one important thing, the number one thing to consider in your life in general. And this is where most of the poor communities fail. Ownership. Ownership of your life, ownership of your business, ownership of your family, ownership of your job. Ownership mindset. And the ownership mindset doesn't say, ‘What kind of job can I get? How can I pay my bills today?’ It says what kind of value can I bring that people will want?” (4:45 | Larry Sharpe)
“When I got to the Marine Corps, my mother had an even worse problem. She actually became an addict. And she was a felon. And I pulled her out of jail. And I tried to get her life set up again. And that was my first real understanding of how the system is not meant for someone who falls down. It is meant to keep you down.” (9:01 | Larry Sharpe)
“Government is very good at servicing, not at helping. They will service you all day long. They will make sure you don’t die and stay in that terrible spot forever. And they’re good at that, that’s a skill set the government has: keeping you in a bad spot. But actually helping you? Oh, they’re terrible. Community is everything and I learned that from my mother.” (9:39 | Larry Sharpe)
“This goes back to our ownership mindset. When you find immigrant families coming, most of them want to own something, immediately, immediately, they want to own something or they want to do business around a house, they own something because they know that where they were from, they own nothing. That's why they left when it comes to own something. That Ownership mindset, which is also an entrepreneur mindset, but isn't always entrepreneurial, but it is ownership based.” (10:55 | Larry Sharpe) 
“The problem with so many nonprofits is they’re all getting government grants, which means you have government strings. So, basically, it’s a government agency that’s not unionized, that’s why the government loves it.” (12:52 | Larry Sharpe)
 
Learn more and subscribe to the Bart Baggett’s Show The World’s Most Interesting People Fan Weekly Newsletter at https://thebartshow.com 
 
Links
Connect with Larry Sharpe
https://www.larrysharpe.com
https://www.facebook.com/sharpe4gov
https://www.instagram.com/larrysharpe
https://www.youtube.com/larrysharpeforoffice
https://www.tiktok.com/larrysharpe
 
Connect with Bart Baggett
https://instagram.com/bartbaggett
https:/

Lou will still tell the joke that isn’t allowed in some circles.  His audience doesn’t want “woke comedy” or watered down dirty jokes.  It just has to be funny. Today’s guest standup comedian Lou Perez feels comfortable making the jokes that other comedians feel too scared to make.  
 
In Lou’s new book, “That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore: The Death and Rebirth of Comedy” he reflects about the days when not only were you allowed to experiment, but encouraged to fail, and audiences were down for the ride.  The World’s Most Interesting People Podcast host Bart Baggett digs into the the last 20 years of Lou’s comedy career and the state of comedy in general.  
 
Lou was surprised with the election of  Donald Trump to the American presidency, and more surprised at the short reign of woke comedy. You could start to see the punchlines from a mile away. Lou and Bart discuss the politics behind late night talk shows and how they found themselves unlikely defenders of free speech. 
 
They also discuss some surprising findings in their respective DNA lineage, having each taken a 23andMe test. They consider how life would be different if they were more invested in identitarian politics, and the lasting influence of the greatest murderer in history, Genghis Khan. 
 
If you’re looking for politically correct comedy, today’s conversation is not for you. Instead, Lou and Bart discuss the state of woke culture, why Twitter was once the best place for writing jokes, and why Joe hates to owe anyone anything. 
 
Quotes
“The book is a really great opportunity to look back at how lucky I was to start out doing comedy when I was doing it where you were expected to try stuff, experiment and make mistakes, to fail, to bomb, and to learn from that and come back and hopefully be funnier.” (3:54 | Lou Perez)
“Suddenly, you had this huge population of comedians that were just aiming their weapons at the President, and you couldn’t stray from that, for a lot of people, you couldn’t stray from that. You couldn’t let this guy get an inch. You couldn’t even make jokes about your own party if you were a Democrat.” (5:43 | Lou Perez)
"The TV writers all live in Los Angeles or New York. There's a heavy liberal element to it. Trump is a Republican president. So it's very easy for them to write those jokes. But if you're from another country, he just looks like a weird clown with orange makeup on. He's easy to make fun of.” (7:08 | Bart Baggett)
“Yeah, that is one of the gifts and one of the gifts of 23andme is I found out I'm 4.8% indigenous American. It's funny, because does that really change anything about me like my day to day, it's kind of like, ‘Oh, that's kind of a cool thing. And then just sort of like taking that like, ‘Man, what if I leaned into that?’ Now what that now that just, if I leaned–if I was the type of person who really took identitarian politics seriously, and my bloodline really seriously, where can I go with that?” (12:52 | Lou Perez)
“I’m glad they’re giving back, we raped and pillaged their land. OK, give them five percent of the oil money. Makes sense to me. Yeah, my body’s 4.8%; the rest of it’s been raped and pillaged. I would be a lot more if it weren’t for the conquistadors, or whatever, coming over and doing their thing.” (14:36 | Bart Baggett and Lou Perez)
 
Links
Learn more and subscribe to the Bart Show Fan Weekly Newsletter at https://thebartshow.com 
 
 
Connect with Lou Perez:
https://www.facebook.com/thelouperez.com
https://www.youtube.com/thelouperez
https://www.tiktok.com/thelouperez
https://www.thelouperez.com
https://www.instagram.com/thelouperez

Connect with Bart Baggett
https://instagram.com/bartbaggett
https://www.instagram.com/bartshowpodcast/
https://www.youtube.com/@bartshowpodcast
https://bartbaggett.com
https://www.tiktok.com/@bartbaggett
 
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm