Unsubscribe Podcast Ep. 250
"Is it Too Late To Stop The AI Takeover?"
Release Date: February 8, 2026
Hosts: Eli Doubletap, Brandon Herrera, Donut Operator, The Fat Electrician
Guest: Richard Ryan
Overview
This milestone 250th episode of Unsubscribe Podcast dives into the intersection of digital culture, technology, and looming threats posed by rapid advances in artificial intelligence. Hosts Eli Doubletap, Brandon Herrera, Donut Operator, and The Fat Electrician are joined by YouTube legend, entrepreneur, and author Richard Ryan for a freewheeling—and sometimes profound—discussion that dances between political hot takes, the future of online censorship, AI ethics, surveillance, digital addiction, culture wars, and forging meaning in a world shaped by technology.
Richard also explores the motivations behind his new book, "The Warrior’s Garden," which provides practical guidance on reclaiming agency in the attention economy. Along the way, the crew share wild stories from YouTube’s “Wild West” era, vent about platform censorship, challenge AI optimism/pessimism, and reflect on the real-life impacts of online culture.
Episode Structure and Key Segments
1. Opening Banter & Hot Takes (00:34 – 09:58)
Main Points:
- Light-hearted intros and giveaways with guest Richard Ryan.
- Humorous discussion about cowboy vs. farmer hats and playful jabs to settle everyone in.
- Hot take from Richard on political insider trading and incentive structures:
- Suggestion: Politicians should only prosper if constituents do (04:36–07:47).
- Brandon proposes pegging Congressional salaries to local median earnings (06:12–09:58).
- Examination of how misaligned incentives feed public distrust and systemic rot.
Notable Quotes:
- "If we don't start rapidly, like, focusing on how do we realign incentives...something unprecedented [is coming] that I don't think the last two, three generations have really seen..."
— Richard Ryan (07:47)
2. The Old School YouTube Era & Content Evolution (11:02 – 17:31)
Main Points:
- Richard recounts his early days as a sketch comedian, move to LA, and circuitous path into YouTube (11:02–13:42).
- Discussion of pioneering slow-mo firearms content, working with notable creators (Corridor Digital, Freddie Wong, FPSRussia), and the technical/creative arms race (13:42–16:11).
- Nostalgia for the early internet and reflection on how things changed as money and scrutiny entered the platform.
Notable Quotes:
- "[You were] doing, like, Hollywood production video assets—looked like it belonged on Discovery."
— Brandon Herrera on Richard's early YouTube videos (13:09) - "[Making videos] was a way to do things I enjoyed, to grow an audience, to create the brands I was excited about monetizing..."
— Richard Ryan (41:08)
3. YouTube Censorship, Adpocalypses & Weaponization of Policy (21:00 – 34:14)
Main Points:
- Richard’s “NextUp” mentorship and the shifting landscape of platform incentives (21:16–26:36).
- The group vent about waves of demonetization, sudden policy changes, especially affecting firearms channels (26:36–34:14).
- YouTube's shifting rules—from retroactive strikes for “weapons modification” to the chilling effects on creative risk.
- Retroactive policy enforcement and the frustrating impossibility for creators to play by rules that constantly change in hindsight.
Notable Quotes:
- "How the fuck am I supposed to, as a creator, make content for what your guidelines are going to be in five years?"
— Brandon Herrera (32:43) - "You're using our data against us...your biometrics and your sleep patterns, your mattresses with subscriptions..."
— Richard Ryan on emergent surveillance and data commodification (73:13)
4. Platform Power, Cultural Influence & Section 230 (39:24 – 44:00)
Main Points:
- On YouTube as a monopoly: Influence vs. financial reward (39:24–40:37).
- Why creating content for the biggest platforms still matters—even as alternatives like Pepperbox or Rumble gain ground (39:39–40:03).
- The Section 230 debate: tech companies straddling the line between platform and publisher, profiting from both protections but taking the stance that benefits them most (40:03–44:00).
Notable Quotes:
- “If what I’m doing is trying to influence culture, you have to go where the people are. Otherwise, you have zero cultural impact...”
— Brandon Herrera (39:39) - "Section 230 doesn't apply to you because you're operating as a private company, not as a public utility...We're coming for you."
— Richard Ryan (40:16)
5. AI: The Takeover, Disinformation, Influence, and the Second Amendment (56:34 – 69:36)
Main Points:
- Richard describes building autonomous drone “bombs” inspired by Ghost Recon years before military drones went mainstream (54:22–58:15).
- The group speculates on the trajectory of AI and digital warfare; Richard predicts Apple and OpenAI will amass dystopian power–outsized influence on politics, policy, and surveillance (58:15–62:09).
- The idea that the future “Second Amendment” applies not just to firearms, but any tool (including digital) necessary to resist tyranny (65:14).
- The “Trojan horse” danger of humanoid robotics and recursive self-learning AIs outstripping human control or comprehension: “At the point it’s smarter than us, we won’t comprehend the threat” (66:56).
Notable Quotes:
- "Super intelligence will have threat vectors and an understanding of things we cannot comprehend...Most people are so egotistical in thinking they’re smarter than the average person or smarter than this or that..."
— Richard Ryan (67:06) - "The best hope is that [superintelligent AI] gives zero fucks about us and is zero of a threat..."
— Richard Ryan (68:28) - "The Second Amendment applies to any tools with which you can defend yourself against tyranny...digital warfare itself is the threat vector more so than an invasion."
— Richard Ryan (65:14)
6. AI in Media, Surveillance, and the Disinformation Tsunami (64:46 – 80:39)
Main Points:
- Discussion of viral AI-generated images (ICE agent “stealing a baby”) and the speed/capacity for misinformation to hijack the narrative (64:46–65:08).
- Explosive spread of disinformation on social and the “bot farm” reality—especially on Reddit, where 30–50% of accounts may be automated (108:11).
- The “slop” of AI influencers and avatars: Richard discusses building hundreds of AI “influencers” to test platform response, experiment with content, and study traffic patterns (85:01–93:03).
- Monetization schemes to undercut real-world exploitation (e.g. human trafficking) with AI-based models and financial flows to nonprofit orgs (85:08–90:03).
Notable Quotes:
- “You 90% of you still will follow girls on Instagram that are completely AI-based and you will not know what you’re looking for because you’re like, ‘Oh, this is a normal individual. Oh, she’s hot. XYZ.’”
— Eli Doubletap (92:50) - "We are the product and our attention is the commodity they're trading."
— Richard Ryan (101:12)
7. Digital Addiction, Attention Economy, and The Warrior’s Garden (117:55 – 129:19)
Main Points:
- Richard details the motivation behind his book "The Warrior’s Garden"—helping people reclaim their lives from the attention economy and social media’s pervasive impact (117:55–118:10).
- Placebo, gratitude, and the importance of setting boundaries around digital consumption for a healthier, more purposeful life (118:10–123:30).
- Self-awareness: replacing addiction to digital stimuli with intentional, meaningful connection and effort in the physical world.
- Community, collective impact, and using influence for good (creating real-life connections and positive community outcomes, e.g., Unsubscribe's fitness challenge) (126:18–129:19).
Notable Quotes:
- “Life is very short. The time that we have with people we care about is limited. You're doing yourself a disservice if you don't at least assess your relationship with your digital experience versus the lived one you’re wanting.”
— Richard Ryan (137:54) - “The person I'm trying to impress now is the person I want to become...”
— Richard Ryan (123:11)
8. Final Reflections, Lighthearted Roasts & Book Info (129:24 – end)
Main Points:
- Light roasting of Richard Ryan—his “audacious wedding playlist theft” and packaging appreciation for The Warrior’s Garden.
- Further book plugs, availability, and a unique gardening gift with early orders.
- A final reminder: Don’t feel pressured to “go full Luddite,” but be intentional, mindful, and balance your digital and real lives.
Notable Quotes:
- “If you’ve taken anything away from this podcast, it’s that Richard is a fantastic person. You should probably read his book.”
— Donut Operator (131:00) - “You can use two dollar words around me all you want.”
— Richard Ryan (138:36)
Memorable Moments & Quotes (with Timestamps)
- “Say hi to Eli. He’s racially ambiguous. Brandon, his hair is fat. Fabulous donut. A dog joke disposition. And there’s a fat electrician. Welcome to Unsubscribe.”
— Eli Double Tap (00:48) - "If you're an ant, you can't understand a human stepping on you. By definition, super intelligence will have threat vectors and understanding of things we cannot comprehend."
— Richard Ryan (67:06) - “The only thing that's happening in this situation...is that their time is extracted from them and advertisers are going to serve ads. The platform's going to make money and, and they're going to be worse for it."
— Richard Ryan (113:13) - "Who's in the room? What's the temperature?...I've got two and a half years on Instagram. Is that really something I care about at this point in my life? No."
— Richard Ryan (101:28)
Takeaways
- The digital world is rapidly evolving: AI, disinformation, and platform monopolies are reshaping politics, economics, and culture at a pace few can match, often outstripping the collective ability to regulate or even understand the changes.
- Community & deliberate engagement are crucial: Despite (or perhaps because of) the chaos online, real-world communities and intentional use of technology for positive change matter more than ever.
- Agency starts with awareness: Through personal reflection, boundary-setting, and genuine relationships, individuals can resist becoming mere products in the attention economy.
Where to find Richard’s book:
The Warrior’s Garden is available wherever books are sold. For limited edition copies or special deals, check bunkerbranding.com or thewarriorsgarden.com.
Hosts’ Final Sentiment (139:55):
"Thank you for coming to the Unsubscribe podcast...Thank you so much for being here."
— Donut Operator
For more Unsubscribe Podcast:
This summary was brought to you by a meat-loving AI (no veggie-packed recipes here, sorry, HelloFresh).