Watchman Privacy – Escape the Technocracy: 1-Year Anniversary
Date: June 27, 2025
Host: Gabriel Custodiet
Guest: Urban
Overview
In this milestone episode, Gabriel Custodiet and his collaborator Urban celebrate the one-year anniversary of EscapeTheTechnocracy.com—a privacy-focused online shop and tutorial series born from the Watchman Privacy podcast. The conversation reflects on the platform’s growth from a single comprehensive privacy course to a full suite of privacy, security, AI-resistance, nomad residency, and preparedness products. The hosts announce an anniversary sale, delve into new product offerings, and discuss the ethos behind their work: pragmatic, uncompromising, and independent privacy education.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Origins and Motivation
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Founding Vision (00:00–02:49)
- Gabriel underscores his dissatisfaction with mainstream privacy influencers and their surface-level, sometimes compromised advice.
“I never wanted to be one to complain about the problems. My goal… was to show you… the solutions, they're right there, they're easier than you think.” — Gabriel [01:46]
- Escape The Technocracy started as a comprehensive digital privacy tutorial, responding to community questions and needs.
- Gabriel underscores his dissatisfaction with mainstream privacy influencers and their surface-level, sometimes compromised advice.
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Urban’s Joining (02:49–03:59)
- Urban outlines his desire to help others gain privacy, emphasizing Gabriel’s willingness to tackle hard, often taboo topics:
“You are not afraid to speak about topics… not many people speak [about].” — Urban [03:08]
- Urban outlines his desire to help others gain privacy, emphasizing Gabriel’s willingness to tackle hard, often taboo topics:
2. Anniversary Sale Details
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General Sale (03:59–06:46)
- 25% off nearly everything on EscapeTheTechnocracy.com until July 4th—no coupon code required.
- Newsletter Exclusive Discounts:
- Watchman’s Torch Premium subscribers get a 45% off single-item coupon.
- Free newsletter subscribers also receive a special code.
- “If you go and buy the Watchman's Torch newsletter right now, you will see that you have access to that coupon code as well. So just a little hint there.” — Gabriel [05:08]
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Other Exclusive Offers
- Secret $100 discount codes revealed later in the episode (see below).
- 3 chances to win a free hour of consulting during the sale (details at [28:24]).
3. Product Evolution – A Year in Review
a) Original Privacy Tutorial Series
- Expanded Curriculum (06:46–09:50)
- Originally a digital privacy video course (installing Linux, using VPNs, Tor, food system privacy).
- Now features nine modules, including a new beginner-friendly Intro to 3D Printing:
“We assume you had no knowledge of how to design something… so you just know how to use the printer.” — Urban [07:37]
- New modules are free to original buyers; newcomers get 25% off during the sale.
b) AI Resistance Course
- Creating with AI, Critiquing AI (09:50–12:29)
- Focuses on privacy in AI applications, jailbreaking/uncensoring AI, and using AI productively (e.g., for text, imagery, coding, video games).
“The goal of the course was to be optimistic but slightly skeptical of [AI].” — Urban [10:32]
- Responds to the hype and ‘AI hustler’ culture by offering practical, hands-on skills and updates.
- Focuses on privacy in AI applications, jailbreaking/uncensoring AI, and using AI productively (e.g., for text, imagery, coding, video games).
c) American Privacy: South Dakota Residency
- Nomad Residency Preparation (12:29–13:38)
- A detailed guide (with Dallas, an expert) for U.S. privacy seekers on establishing nomad residency and LLCs in South Dakota.
“Having a new jurisdiction, a new legal jurisdiction, that is a game changer.” — Gabriel [13:11]
- A detailed guide (with Dallas, an expert) for U.S. privacy seekers on establishing nomad residency and LLCs in South Dakota.
d) Bitcoin Privacy & Security Course
- Comprehensive, Candid (13:38–15:08)
- Extensive, updated modules, including real-world ways people lose bitcoin.
“There is an entire section about how people lose their bitcoin…that alone is…worth buying the course.” — Urban [14:09]
- Emphasis on evolving, honest, and practical coverage.
- Extensive, updated modules, including real-world ways people lose bitcoin.
e) Exotic Security: El Dorado Cipher Toolkit
- Ancient Innovation, Modern Privacy (17:07–20:35)
- The Khipu-inspired kit for hiding bitcoin seed phrases, based on Incan record-knots.
“If you look at it, it could be hanging in your living room and it's really your bitcoin seed, but nobody would really know what it is.” — Urban [17:49]
- Upcoming improvements to address its vulnerabilities.
- The Khipu-inspired kit for hiding bitcoin seed phrases, based on Incan record-knots.
f) Steven Harris’s Preparedness Courses
- Practical Survival & Mindset Shift (22:38–27:56)
- Urban, new to Harris’s content, found immediate life benefits (never running out of phone battery).
- Harris’s style: tough love, practical demonstrations (fending off Somali pirates, survival keys, emergency readiness).
“...he loves you. He deeply loves people and he wants them to come back home safe…” — Urban [25:46]
- Two courses: Nuclear War Survivor Skills and Shadow Loadout; aiming for self-reliance in uncertain times.
4. Notable Quotes & Moments
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On Integrity and Independence:
“Make no compromise with the public taste. And when you are marching to your own drumbeat… you can come up with some really crazy creative stuff.” — Gabriel [20:45]
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On the Need for Objectivity:
“It allows us to talk about cryptocurrencies that we want because we're not being paid by another one. It allows us to be objective…” — Gabriel [30:35]
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Humor and Insight from Product Development:
“It's basically the Excel spreadsheet of the Incas.” — Urban [17:56]
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AI and Cultural Commentary:
“AI is woke, right? …ChatGPT was like, how dare you. The Incas were noble warriors…” — Urban [19:03]
5. Memorable Moments / Special Offers
- $100 Off Code:
- Discount code “9ZANNBV” revealed for $100 off (usable twice). [15:46]
- Free Consulting Giveaway:
- All buyers during the anniversary sale entered to win a one-hour consulting session. Entries multiply for each $100 spent. [28:24]
- Newsletter Incentives:
- Premium and free subscribers receive exclusive, larger discounts.
6. Looking Ahead: Future Plans
[29:51–31:40]
- More 3D printing content, self-hosting, and additional Steven Harris material are being considered.
- Listeners are encouraged to submit concise ideas for future products.
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Origins and Philosophy: 00:00–03:59
- Anniversary Sale Details: 03:59–06:46
- Privacy Course Evolution & New Modules: 06:46–09:50
- AI Courses Overview: 09:50–12:29
- South Dakota Residency: 12:29–13:38
- Bitcoin Course Insights: 13:38–15:08
- $100 Code Release: 15:46
- Development Stories – Khipu/El Dorado Toolkit: 17:07–20:35
- Newsletter Focus & Content: 21:03–22:38
- Steven Harris Courses: 22:38–27:56
- Free Consulting Announcement: 28:24
- Future Directions & Listener Input: 29:51–32:07
Tone & Ethos
The episode maintains a candid, confident tone, driven by independence from sponsorships and a disdain for compromised privacy advice. Gabriel and Urban blend technical depth, practical solutions, and offbeat creativity with moments of humor and real-world reflection. Throughout, their passion for empowering privacy-seekers—and their refusal to cater to “public taste”—shines through.