Podcast Summary:

Digital Social Hour
Episode: #1786 — Justus Smith: Civilizations Collapse Every 200 Years… Are We Next?
Host: Sean Kelly
Guest: Justus Smith
Date: January 26, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode brings together host Sean Kelly and guest Justus Smith—podcaster and commentator—for a lively, unfiltered conversation centering on the cyclical collapse of civilizations, genetics and intelligence, conspiracy theory lore, CIA activities, and how societal trends threaten the long-term survival of Western culture. Infused with both academic references and casual banter, the discussion aims to explore what might be behind the decline of societies and the personal responsibility to preserve the best aspects of civilization.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Cyclical Nature of Civilizational Collapse

Timestamps: 00:00, 15:23, 18:38

• Smith argues that most civilizations only last about 200–250 years before collapse, echoing the notion that “civilizational collapse is cyclical.”

  "Most civilizations, most kingdoms, last for about 200 to 250 years." — Justus Smith [00:17, 15:28]

• He frames this in both genetic and societal terms, emphasizing the importance of cultural stewardship:

  "I think it's advantageous for people who enjoy the fruits of Western culture to fight for the fruits of Western culture. And that involves raising our children correctly, giving them the right role models, making sure that everything runs smoothly." — Justus Smith [00:00, 15:32]

• Demoralization, mass inflation, and mass immigration are identified as the three pillars of collapse.

  "There are three pillars to civilizational collapse. Mass inflation. Mass immigration. Demoralization. This is the demoralization part we're talking about. And you're seeing it, bro." — Justus Smith [18:20]

2. Genetics, Intelligence, and the Role of Environment

Timestamps: 07:51–11:58

• Smith explains differences in intelligence via “fluid” (innate) and “crystal” (learned) intelligence, using the “pot” metaphor to describe cognitive capacity.

  "Fluid intelligence is something you're born with. Imagine that your brain is like a pot. When you're born, your pot is a certain size and it’s made of a certain material. Some people have a small plastic pot ... Or you might have a wonderful diamond pot." — Justus Smith [07:58]

• He asserts that genetics and ecology (environment) shape intelligence across populations, drawing from controversial research on race, ecology, and IQ:

  "On average, Ashkenazi Jews and Eastern Asians... have the highest IQs on average. 120 and up. Right. Sub Saharan Africans have an 80 IQ on average." — Justus Smith [11:05]

• Smith clarifies he’s sharing data rather than making value judgments, and critiques the left for allegedly personalizing or dismissing uncomfortable findings:

  "People will call this kind of research racist. I didn't come up with this research. I read the data." — Justus Smith [13:23]

• He links a decline in average intelligence to the risk of societal regression:

  "If our general intelligence keeps declining, civilization will collapse. Everyone's going to be slow on that Italian brain rot, watching OnlyFans..." — Justus Smith [14:28]

3. Mutation, Modernity, and Social Behavior

Timestamps: 00:17, 15:29

• Exploring genetics further, Smith discusses continuous genetic mutation and how elite separation from natural and sexual selection distorts behavioral norms.

  "When you become a super elite... you're no longer under the pressure of sexual selection or natural selection. ... You continue to mutate without course correcting." — Justus Smith [15:48]

• The result: mutated behaviors among elites trickle down to the masses, accelerating civil decline:

  "So we start emulating their mutated behaviors. So the lower classes become mutated. They become despotic. They become all these weird, degenerate people." — Justus Smith [16:15]

4. Conspiracy Theories and Parapsychology

Timestamps: 02:09–06:33

• Smith details his affinity for conspiracy theories, especially those by William Cooper (Behold a Pale Horse):

  “If you look this book up, you’re actually put on an FBI watch list. That’s how dangerous—just for Googling it.” — Justus Smith [02:20]

• The Cooper story is retold: UFO sightings, secret government intimidation, Cooper’s prediction of 9/11, and subsequent death.

  "He literally said that it would be blamed on Osama a year before it happened." — Justus Smith [04:40]

• Smith shifts to parapsychology, sharing stories of Ted Owens (the “PK Man”) documented for causing weather anomalies and even deaths by malicious psychic powers:

  "In scientific settings on over 230 occasions, was able to cause weather anomalies, like lightning striking at a specific set of coordinates." — Justus Smith [05:32]

5. Evil, Power, and Motivations

Timestamps: 06:44–07:29

• Smith suggests that evil is less about money and more about deprivation and incompetence:

  "People say that money is the root of all evil. It's not true. The lack of money is the root of all evil." — Justus Smith [07:14]

• He describes how intellect and intent, not circumstances or resources, ultimately shape society:

  "To be powerful in this world... requires intellect. It requires studying." — Justus Smith [07:27]

6. The Role of Media and Celebrities as Role Models

Timestamps: 19:22–22:38

• Smith reflects on Kanye West as an example—kids need discernment, not blind loyalty:

  "I encourage kids to learn the scientific method, to learn Aristotelian logic and run everything through that and interpret things through that lens. ... Sometimes Kanye West says the most intelligent thing I've ever heard." — Justus Smith [20:51]

• Discussing the danger of uncritical trust in authority figures:

  "People have this blind loyalty towards these celebrities and people they look up to. ... Even the president. They want to agree with every single thing, you know." — Sean Kelly [21:58]

7. The CIA: Controlled Opposition, Covert Action, and Moral Limits

Timestamps: 22:42–27:49

• Smith asserts that high-profile CIA podcast guests are often “controlled opposition,” suggesting true operatives never reveal their identities.

  "When you know a real spook, no matter how close they are to you, they're not going to tell you they're a spook... If you have somebody come out and try to kind of bleach the CIA and be like, nah, dude, we were chill, bro. That's Cap." — Justus Smith [22:47–23:28]

• He critiques CIA overreach—everything from foreign coups and installing governments to MKUltra, Charles Manson, and bizarre experiments:

  "The CIA is responsible for probably some of the worst atrocities on this planet." — Justus Smith [23:31] "They set up these brothels and bordellos with double sided mirrors...and they were studying the effects. ... At the end of the day, what empirical scientific data are you going to watch and get from a john with a prostitute high on LSD? These guys were having fun with black operations, doing weird degenerate stuff." — Justus Smith [25:39]

• He points to the wall of plausible deniability between the intelligence community and political leadership:

  "When you have this unchecked system... it goes way off the ramps and they start doing weird tests on, like, basset hounds." — Justus Smith [26:56]

• Smith and Kelly share outrage at animal experimentation and agree on moral red lines:

  "If you hurt a dog, bro, that should be subject for execution. ... Let's crucify anyone that hurts an animal." — Justus Smith [27:54]

8. Lighter Side: Asian Heritage, Otters, and YouTube

Timestamps: 01:02–01:18, 28:05–28:28

• Friendly banter on Asian heritage (Korean and Chinese backgrounds), food recommendations, poking fun at cultural stereotypes, and ending with a wholesome interlude about otter videos on YouTube as a way to disconnect from dark conspiracies.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Civilizational Survival:

  “If our general intelligence keeps declining, civilization will collapse. Everyone's going to be slow on that Italian brain rot, watching OnlyFans and just running around on some mutant timing, bro.” — Justus Smith [14:28]

• On Elite Mutation:

  "As a civilization advances... the gap between the working class and the ruling class becomes more separate—it's like the difference of a God and an ant in actual power." — Justus Smith [16:35]

• On Parapsychology:

  "PK man, you've got to look in. He made lightning strike. He made it melt where it was icy. He made it icy where it was hot..." — Justus Smith [05:59]

• On The CIA:

  "The CIA is responsible for probably some of the worst atrocities on this planet." — Justus Smith [23:31]

Important Timestamps

• On Civilization Collapse and Mutation: 00:00, 15:23–18:38
• William Cooper & Conspiracy Theories: 02:09–04:53
• Parapsychology and Psychic Powers: 05:17–06:33
• Discussion of Intelligence and Genetics: 07:51–14:28
• The CIA, Black Ops, and Controlled Opposition: 22:42–27:49
• Role Models & Celebrity Influence: 19:22–22:38

Tone and Style

• Blunt, confrontational, and occasionally provocative.
• Frequent use of colloquial language (“G,” “bro,” “mutant timing”).
• Mix of academic references, pop culture, and irreverent humor.
• Willingness to discuss taboo and controversial subjects candidly.

For Listeners

This episode challenges commonly held beliefs about society, genetics, and power, asking listeners to critically examine who sets cultural narratives and what responsibility each person has in fighting civilizational malaise. Expect a wild ride blending history, science, conspiracy, and personal conviction.

Note: Advertisement, intros, and outros have been omitted per request; focus is limited to main content and substance.