Behind the Bastards – “Part One: How Jeffrey Epstein Helped Build the Modern World”

Date: February 17, 2026
Host: Robert Evans (Cool Zone Media / iHeartPodcasts)
Guests: Andrew T.

Episode Overview

In this episode, Robert Evans and guest Andrew T. dive into the recently released Epstein files to explore not just Epstein’s notorious criminality, but his surprising influence on the development of modern technology, internet culture, and the contemporary far-right. This is the first installment in a multi-part series tracing how Epstein and his circle—directly and indirectly—helped shape elements of the digital, political, and media environments that define our era.

Main Theme:
How Jeffrey Epstein, through social, financial, and technological networks, shaped key aspects of today’s tech, media, and political landscape—often in ways more far-reaching (and darker) than previously known.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Growing Scope of the Epstein Files

[04:12] Brock Pierce:

• Massive new file dump: In early 2026, the DOJ released three million new Epstein-related pages.
• Ongoing revelations: The files are vast, still being sifted, and regularly reveal new, deeply disturbing details tying influential figures (including Donald Trump) to Epstein’s world.

Notable quote:

• [05:49] “A lot of crazy shit is in these files that literally happened…. And probably the single worst piece of data I have seen from an implicating the president point of view is this paragraph from an FBI interview with a victim of Epstein's.” – Brock Pierce

2. Epstein & Trump: Intersecting Scandals

[06:18] Brock Pierce (quoting FBI interview):

• A newly released FBI account recalls Epstein introducing a 14-year-old girl to Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, with disturbing banter between the men.
• The hosts discuss the implications for Trump, public reaction, and the failure (or refusal) of some political and journalistic circles to acknowledge the full scope of complicity.

[07:16] Robert Evans:

• “I'm gonna say ew a lot on these episodes, but ew…”

3. Beyond the Scandal: Epstein’s Structural Impact

[10:25] Brock Pierce:

• While the pedophilic crimes are unspeakable, some of the most surprising revelations are Epstein’s centrality to tech and political events—such as cryptocurrency’s adoption, Gamergate, the 2008 financial crash, rise of right-wing media, and the toxicification of internet culture.

[11:29] Brock Pierce:

• “[Epstein] helped create the modern far right and he helped ruin the Internet in a lot of ways.”

4. “Right Place, Right Time” or Architect?

[12:37] Andrew T.

• Considers whether Epstein’s influence was unique or just a snapshot of how powerful networks function historically.
• The answer seems to be: a mix—Epstein wasn’t always the main domino, but was often an important “early domino,” especially in proto-cryptocurrency and online radicalization.

[13:00] Brock Pierce:

• “There have always been… groups of elites who are all creepy friends… making policy that affects millions of lives.”

5. The Brock Pierce Arc: From “Mighty Ducks” Kid to Crypto Mogul

Who Is Brock Pierce?

• [19:24] Brock Pierce (not the host!) went from child star (“Mighty Ducks”) to ambitious 14-year-old with dreams of Hollywood production power.
• The hosts unpack Pierce’s early urge for dominance and adult status, suggesting a childhood forced to “grow up too fast.”

Digital Entertainment Network (DEN) and Predatory Tech Bros

• [29:51] Brock Pierce: At 17, Pierce cofounds DEN with Mark Collins Rector and Chad Shackley.
  • DEN:
    • Envisioned as YouTube before YouTube (late ’90s)
    • Infamous for wild, abusive parties, and as a vector for sexual abuse of young boys
    • Heavily funded ($88 million) by VC and politicians, with a mission to reach “ignored” Gen Y demographics (notably gay teens)
  • Collins Rector later convicted of trafficking minors and fled the country; Pierce was never convicted but is named in abuse allegations.

[45:22] Brock Pierce:

• After fleeing to Spain with Collins Rector (who is later extradited), Pierce claims ignorance of child abuse material found in their villa (Pierce was not charged).

Internet Gaming Entertainment (IGE) & Steve Bannon

[46:32] Brock Pierce:

• Pierce’s next venture was IGE, a company pioneering gold farming in MMOs (notably World of Warcraft).
• [50:23] Steve Bannon enters as an “adult in the room,” bringing in investment but also learning from the gamer communities—especially their anger and susceptibility to manipulation.
• IGE’s gold farming model introduced exploitative labor practices (‘virtual sweatshops’ in Asia) and demonstrated how online populations could be radicalized or weaponized.

[58:24] Brock Pierce and Andrew T.:

• Bannon observes the “monster power” of angry, rootless online males, planting seeds for his later manipulation of online subcultures for far-right politics.

6. Epstein’s Interest in Cryptocurrency and Online Influence

The Mindshift Conference and Crypto Conversion

• After his 2008 conviction, Epstein becomes fixated on online reputation management and the possibilities of digital currencies (especially Bitcoin).
• Through conman/illusionist Alfred Seckel, Epstein organizes the 2011 “Mindshift” conference on his private island; Brock Pierce is a featured participant and impresses Epstein with his talk on crypto.

[66:16] Andrew T.:

• “These people are so dumb… the idea that, like, I need a TED Talk of my own that'll make people forget I'm a pedophile.”

Epstein’s Bitcoin Networking

• Epstein begins correspondence with Gavin Andresen (successor to “Satoshi Nakamoto”) and other crypto notables.
• Multiple indications (emails, meeting requests) that Epstein sought to influence or at least “monitor” the direction of crypto development—potentially shaping how digital currencies entered mainstream finance and politics.

The Brock Pierce-Epstein Partnership

[72:30] Brock Pierce:

• Mails between Epstein and Pierce indicate Epstein provided Pierce with “girls” in 2012. (Context and wording make it clear these are not adult ‘girlfriends.’)
• Pierce thoroughly enmeshed with major right-wing figures (Bannon, Peter Thiel) and in crypto circles.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Pedestrian Evil Meets Systemic Evil

• [05:48] Brock Pierce (on FBI victim account):
  “Introducing 14 year old DOE to Donald J. Trump, Epstein elbowed Trump playfully, asking him, referring to Doe, and this is a good one, right? Trump smiled and nodded in agreement. They both chuckled and Doe felt uncomfortable, but at the time was too young to understand why.”
• [07:16] Robert Evans:
  "I'm gonna say ew a lot on these episodes, but ew, the, the big..."

On Elites, Power, and Abuse

• [13:00] Brock Pierce:
  “There have always been... groups of elites who are all creepy friends and are all probably having creepy sex, often with underage people... making policy that affects millions and millions of lives. Right. That's, that's always been the case.”

On Influence versus Responsibility

• [11:29] Brock Pierce:
  “He helped create the modern far right and he helped ruin the Internet in a lot of ways.”

On Bannon’s Gamer Epiphany

• [58:35] Brock Pierce (quoting Bannon):
  “These guys, these rootless white males had monster power.”
• [58:50] Robert Evans:
  “This is where, where Bannon makes that realization, Right?”

On Child Stardom and Predation

• [22:16] Andrew T.:
  "If your dream is to be a producer at 14, something is straight up wrong with you."

• [33:59] Brock Pierce:
  “So at 17, Brock is in business with a 40 year old and a 24 year old. Yeah. Starting this company. And he moves into them. They've got a mansion, as we'll talk about. And he moves in with these guys shortly before DEN seeks its first round of funding.”

On Gold Farming and Exploitation

• [53:33] Brock Pierce:
  “Yeah, it is a digital sweatshop, right? Yeah.”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [04:12] — New Epstein file releases; DOJ’s document dump
• [05:48] — FBI account of Trump/Epstein interaction with a minor
• [11:29] — Epstein’s expansive role: crypto, Gamergate, 2008 crash
• [19:24] — Brock Pierce’s early life; child actor background
• [29:51] — DEN’s rise and fall; Hollywood, exploitation, abuse
• [45:22] — Spain, child abuse material found, criminal fallout
• [46:32] — The founding and reality of IGE (online gold farming)
• [50:23] — Bannon enters; manipulation of online gamer anger
• [58:35] — Bannon realizes the political potential of online “rootless white males”
• [66:11] — Epstein’s Mindshift conference; his new focus on crypto
• [72:30] — Emails confirming Pierce received “girls” from Epstein in 2012
• [73:32] — Preview of Part Two; outlining the road ahead

Tone and Language

The episode is dark, fast-paced, and often laced with biting sarcasm or gallows humor—a signature of "Behind the Bastards." The hosts maintain a tone that alternates between horror, disbelief, and grim amusement as they chronicle the bizarre and horrifying intersections of tech, power, and predation.

Sample banter and asides:

• [22:27] Brock Pierce: “If you really want the high grade cocaine, you gotta be a big league producer.”
• [66:16] Andrew T.: “These people are so dumb… the idea that, like, I need a TED Talk of my own that'll make people forget I'm a pedophile.”

Summary

This episode lays the groundwork for understanding not just what Epstein and his circle did, but how their actions molded the modern world—spanning from online subcultures and gold-farming sweatshops to the crypto economy and far-right movements. It exposes the web of connections, criminality, and privilege that allowed this to happen, setting up deeper dives into the specific mechanisms of influence in subsequent episodes.

Coming Up:

• How Epstein’s power-brokering with figures like Brock Pierce, Steve Bannon, and Peter Thiel set the stage for the digital and ideological landscapes we inhabit today.

Listen Next:

Stay tuned for Part Two for a deeper exploration into how the seeds sown by these men blossomed into movements (and technologies) that have reshaped our political and online worlds—for the worse.