Podcast Summary: Surrounded – Andrew Callaghan vs 20 Conspiracy Theorists

Podcast: Surrounded by Jubilee Media
Date: September 28, 2025
Episode Theme: YouTuber and journalist Andrew Callaghan debates 20 conspiracy theorists one by one. Through rapid one-on-one rounds, they grapple over hot-button conspiracy theories: QAnon, elite child trafficking, 9/11, Hunter Biden’s laptop, and flat earth beliefs. Andrew aims to challenge, question, and occasionally find common ground—demonstrating that debate can be raw and respectful even on the wildest topics.

Episode Overview

In this episode of Surrounded, Andrew Callaghan (creator of Channel 5 and All Gas, No Brakes) sits in the center of a crowded studio and debates 20 conspiracy theorists, one at a time, as their peers vote them in and out. Hot-button claims range from elite child trafficking to 9/11, Hunter Biden's laptop, and the shape of the Earth. Throughout, Andrew aims for nuance, occasionally finding surprising agreement while dismantling or probing the most extreme claims.

I. Conspiracies & the QAnon Debate

(Key segment: 05:35 – 21:50)

Main Points:

• Elite Child Trafficking:
  • Both Andrew and several theorists agree that child sex trafficking exists and sometimes involves powerful elites, but Andrew differentiates between proven rings (Epstein, Catholic Church) and the QAnon mythos of “Satan-worshipping, baby-eating elites.”
• Establishment Distrust and Psyops:
  • One guest claims that QAnon was a “psyop” by political actors to distract from real, visible power structures.
  • Andrew theorizes that “QAnon was probably a psyop in of itself by Steve Bannon ... to discredit people from actually putting the target where it should have been, which is right in front of our faces.” (16:45)
• Journalism, Trust & Labels:
  • Multiple guests argue that “conspiracy theorist” is just a modern label for “investigative journalist.”
  • Andrew admits: “I hope I’m wrong. I don’t want there to be children being trafficked” (06:15)
• Mainstream narrative vacuum:
  • “When people stop trusting the mainstream narrative, which overall I think is a good thing, it makes way for an entire vacuum … people who are even less reliable can fill the void with just different stuff.” – Andrew (19:35)

Notable Quotes:

• “A conspiracy theorist used to be called an investigative journalist. We have questions, and I think those questions deserve to be answered.” – Guest (18:38)
• “We can agree that there are children being trafficked … and that it seems to be some sort of systemic, industrialized component to this child trafficking.” – Andrew (11:32)

II. Satanism, Trauma-based Mind Control, and Elite Rituals

(Key segment: 22:00 – 28:30)

Main Points:

• Project Monarch and Ritual Abuse:
  • One guest references MKUltra and “Project Monarch,” alleging generational trauma and links to political leaders and Hollywood celebrities.
• Popular Culture and Dismissal:
  • Andrew points out cultural phenomena like “Eyes Wide Shut” influence the narrative, making genuine investigative claims harder to discern from internet embellishment.
• Church of Satan vs. Paganism:
  • Andrew distinguishes between atheistic “Church of Satan” members and those referenced as participants in sinister rituals.

Notable Quotes:

• “You can find anecdotal evidence of ritual abuse happening in all areas of society. I also think a lot of the stuff’s like lifted from Hollywood … I just always think they read it on someone’s Facebook.” – Andrew (27:55)

III. Epstein, Blackmail, & the Elites

(Key segment: 28:30 – 34:30)

Main Points:

• Epstein as Proof of Elite Sexual Abuse:
  • All agree Epstein was a trafficker, and elites knowingly or unknowingly visited his island.
• Difficulty of Investigation:
  • Journalists receive threats for investigating. Andrew recounts receiving a billion-dollar lawsuit threat after interviewing Hunter Biden.
• Blackmail Operations:
  • Discussion on how honeypot operations could trap “innocent” visitors to Epstein’s island, who are then blackmailed.

Notable Quotes:

• “The elites trafficking children is not a baseless conspiracy. It’s a reasonable suspicion.” – Guest (30:49)
• “At the highest levels of power, especially in this country, you have a tendency toward exploitation … it’s a power trip thing for them.” – Andrew (32:54)

IV. Pizzagate, Satanism, and Symbolism

(Key segment: 34:30 – 39:10)

Main Points:

• Pizzagate Misunderstandings:
  • The “CP” (cheese pizza/child porn) code confusion and strange art at Comet Ping Pong are discussed. Andrew and guests agree on misinterpretation feeding mass hysteria.
• Religion, Morality, and Abuse:
  • Satanism’s purported connection to pedophilia is questioned; Andrew argues the Catholic Church scandal is more evident than Satanist involvement.

Notable Quotes:

• “What is the connection between Satanism and pedophilia? … seems to be more of a connection between the Catholic Church and pedophilia than Satan.” – Andrew (37:22)

V. 9/11: Inside Job or Not?

(Key segments: 43:00 – 01:08:10)

Main Points:

• US Foreign Policy & “Blowback”:
  • Andrew acknowledges US funding of mujahideen and Al Qaeda but sees no need for an “inside job” to explain the attack, citing legitimate grievances and opportunity.
• Pilot Skills & Tower Collapse:
  • Multiple guests dispute the likelihood of amateur pilots executing the attacks and the physics of the towers’ collapse, compared to demolition footage.
• Patriot Act & Surveillance State:
  • Guests with personal histories of incarceration reflect on post-9/11 expansion of the surveillance state, including warrantless wiretapping impacting poor communities.

Notable Quotes:

• “I was near where Flight 93 crashed in western Pennsylvania. So we thought there was planes hitting everywhere.” – Andrew (48:41)
• “You just need about 50 people with a vested interest in allowing something to happen that’ll change the minds of the American people…” – James (54:21)
• “To my mind, there doesn’t need to be a grand conspiracy of a thousand people … just a handful in the right spot.” – James, guest (53:42)
• “My whole goal to you is just always go with an open mind and always dig … corporations are corporations and people are bought.” – Luna (56:33)

VI. Hunter Biden’s Laptop, Nepotism & Corruption

(Key segment: 01:13:50 – 01:33:30)

Main Points:

• Laptop Contents:
  • Both sides agree Hunter Biden had severe personal problems (e.g., drug use), but Andrew argues no crime linking Joe Biden to corruption was ever proven.
• Media & Legal System:
  • Guests allege systemic coverups, selective prosecution, and media bias; Andrew describes the difference between whataboutism and fair critique.
• Nepotism and Systems Critique:
  • Both agree nepotism is endemic, citing Trump and Bush family examples alongside challenges against Hunter.
• Collapse of Two-party System:
  • Several guests advocate for wider political change, “cleaning house,” and holding all elites accountable, regardless of party.

Notable Quotes:

• “I don’t think anybody should be in jail for drugs ... If you’re cooking crack in the ‘80s and you’re still in jail, free everybody who’s locked up.” – Andrew (01:15:22)
• “It’s not that Hunter Biden did anything further than any other presidential child did … it’s endemic.” – Andrew (01:23:09)
• “We can’t be in a kleptocracy where you get into the club and you get to do whatever you want.” – Guest (01:25:40)
• “To whom much is given, much is expected … the powerful are guilty until they prove we can trust them.” – Guest (01:32:47)

VII. The Shape of the Earth: Flat or Sphere?

(Key segment: 01:39:45 – 01:57:22)

Main Points:

• Flat Earth Arguments:
  • Flat Earthers challenge mainstream models, citing allegedly fixed constellations, ice walls in Antarctica, and religious/vicarious “evidence.”
  • Some proponents link flat Earth to biblical cosmology and claim NASA is designed “to deceive.”
• Religion, Language, & Authority:
  • Theorists connect NASA etymology to “to deceive” in Hebrew and describe the firmament as a dome, linking the deception to Satanic efforts to “hide God’s handiwork.”
• Brain, Binaural Beats, & Spirituality:
  • Guests describe government suppression of spiritual consciousness techniques (binaural beats, astral projection, etc.) as part of elite control—suggesting everyone can be “God” by realizing their full potential.
• Origins of Round Earth Model:
  • Some guests theorize the spherical Earth model arose from Christian colonization, not science, citing the suppression of ancient flat Earth beliefs.

Notable Quotes:

• “One of the strongest indications of the slave mind is to get you to deny what you see with your own eyes…” – Flat Earth Proponent (01:41:41)
• “NASA, when you take the T, you get … Satan. So what we’re getting at now is a diabolical game of Satan vs. God, and Satan’s move to debunk or displace the existence of God…” – Flat Earth Proponent (01:44:31)
• “We are spiritual beings in a temporary vessel … the metaphysical is 100% more prominent in our lifetime than the physical.” – Guest (01:46:27)

VIII. Interdimensional Cabal & Anunnaki

(Key segment: 01:57:33 – 02:05:50)

Main Points:

• Interdimensional Reptilians & Enslavement:
  • Some argue a global cabal, run by non-human entities, controls the world, enslaving humanity energetically and psychologically.
• Enlightenment & Spiritual Liberation:
  • Andrew probes for common ground, agreeing that modernity often disconnects humans from spiritual fulfillment and agency, though he questions the literal existence of “lizard people.”

Notable Quotes:

• “What can we do to liberate ourselves from the slave mind? … It’s a push into your soul, into nature, into the ether to be the original God.” – Guest (02:03:18)
• “You can make your life heaven or hell. Depends on what you decide to feed into.” – Guest (02:04:30)

IX. Episode Reflections & Final Thoughts

(Key segment: 02:06:00 – End)

• Andrew expresses that debate does not change deeply held beliefs, but mutual respect and honest inquiry can increase understanding or introduce productive doubt.
• Several participants and Andrew reflect on how openness, friendliness, and a willingness to admit gaps in one's knowledge facilitate more fruitful conversation, even on fringe topics.

Notable Quotes:

• “There’s no way I’m going to convince someone the Earth’s not flat … but maybe we can find middle ground, or maybe I can be like, ‘maybe NASA has been hiding some things.’” – Andrew (02:07:35)

Timeline of Key Segments

• 05:35 – QAnon, elite trafficking, and media trust breakdown
• 22:00 – MKUltra, ritual abuse, and Satanic conspiracy
• 28:30 – Epstein, elites, blackmail, and cultural influence
• 43:00 – 9/11: terrorist attack vs. inside job
• 54:21 – Surveillance state, Patriot Act, and personal stories
• 01:13:50 – Hunter Biden: personal vice vs. corruption
• 01:39:45 – Flat Earth defense, NASA and biblical cosmology
• 01:57:33 – Interdimensional cabals, “enslaved” humanity
• 02:06:00 – Reflections and debate lessons

Memorable Moments

• Andrew describes his legal scare: “I got a legal demand letter … saying we were going to be sued for $1 billion by the First Lady if we didn’t retract that and issue a formal apology.” (30:15)
• A debate on what makes someone a conspiracy theorist: “A conspiracy theorist used to be called an investigative journalist.” (18:38)
• Flat Earther’s challenge: “So, the solidified structure we’re standing on is the Earth, and the Antarctic ice wall is around it.” (01:41:50)
• On modern misinformation: “When people stop trusting the mainstream narrative … it creates a vacuum for even less reliable information.” (19:35)

Closing Reflection

This episode highlights the spectrum of conspiracy thinking, from plausible suspicions rooted in real abuses of power (Epstein, surveillance) to extraordinary claims (flat earth, reptilian elites). It’s a masterclass in asking the right questions, staying open-minded, and recognizing where genuine skepticism ends and fantasy begins.

Andrew Callaghan’s approach stands out: respectful, curiosity-driven, and critical—always looking for common ground, but unafraid to call out logical leaps.

For listeners and readers:

• You’ll get a crash course in the logic (and illogic) behind some of today’s most prominent conspiracies.
• The episode doesn’t debunk every theory—but it does model how to engage challenging ideas without losing civility or wit.

Final Quote:
“To whom much is given, much is expected. … The powerful are guilty until they prove we can trust them.” – Guest (01:32:47)