The Porcupine Report with Eric Brakey

Retired U.S. Marine and state legislator Tom Mannion joins the show to explore the growing momentum for liberty in the New Hampshire State House, centered on the renewed push for Defend the Guard and the effort to bring troops home from undeclared wars. He offers sharp, firsthand insight into how the bill passed the House once again and the institutional resistance it continues to face. The conversation also ranges across campus carry, food freedom, and the unexpected alliances forming around these fights. Along the way, listeners get an unfiltered look at how real change takes shape inside the legislature, and why this moment feels different.Stay tuned after the show for powerful firsthand testimony from Tom Mannion and Eric Brakey on Defend the Guard.For updates, follow Rep. Mannion on X at: https://x.com/mannion4nh

Eric is joined by Carla Gericke to mark the 10th anniversary of Porcupine Day and reflect on the moment the Free State Project officially triggered the move to New Hampshire. Carla shares behind-the-scenes stories about reaching 20,000 signers and the early decisions that helped accelerate the movement. The conversation explores how the Free State Project evolved from an ambitious idea into a real, growing community with lasting cultural and political impact. They also discuss why Porcupine Day remains an important milestone for the movement today. The episode wraps with a preview of this year’s Porcupine Day celebration and an invitation for viewers to experience it firsthand.Get your tickets for the 10th annual Porcupine Day at: https://fsp.org/PorcDay

Eric talks with Tyler and Sarah, the new innkeepers of the Independence Inn in Strafford, New Hampshire, to talk about their journey from California and New York to the Free State. They share how a simple vacation turned into taking over the historic inn and opening The Jefferson restaurant, built around scratch-made food, local sourcing, and personal responsibility. They share how their business has been embraced by the local community and why New Hampshire’s culture of freedom, trust, and neighborliness feels fundamentally different from other states. Tyler and Sarah explain how the inn has become a hub for Free Staters, visitors, and future movers looking to experience New Hampshire before relocating. The episode highlights how building businesses, community, and culture on the ground is central to keeping the “Live Free or Die” spirit alive.

Eric sits down with documentary filmmaker Reinita Susman to talk about her path to New Hampshire and the spark behind her documentary, FREE STATE. She shares how living in California during the COVID era pushed her to start capturing the real stories of people impacted by lockdowns. The conversation centers on her multi-episode project exploring the Free State movement through the lives of homesteaders, entrepreneurs, homeschoolers, and liberty-minded activists. Through featured clips, they dig into ideas like alternative money, decentralization, and the strength that comes from building community with people who share your values. They show how New Hampshire’s culture of freedom and fellowship became a refuge during a time of crisis—and why it continues to draw people looking for a freer, more intentional way of life.

Merry Christmas from The Porcupine Report! Please enjoy our Christmas special from 2024. Eric is joined by a panel of regulars to the show to talk about Christmas spirit in New Hampshire. They celebrate New Hampshire's rank as the state with the most Christmas spirit, due to the many holiday events that happen annually as well as activities such as snowmobiling, ice fishing, skiing, and ice skating. The guests also share unique ways they celebrate, from cooking special meals to organizing community events. They bask in the joy of celebrating the holidays in the Free State, without the burden of overregulation and high taxes.

Eric talks with Tyler and Sarah, the new innkeepers of the Independence Inn in Strafford, New Hampshire, to talk about their journey from California and New York to the Free State. They share how a simple vacation turned into taking over the historic inn and opening The Jefferson restaurant, built around scratch-made food, local sourcing, and personal responsibility. They share how their business has been embraced by the local community and why New Hampshire’s culture of freedom, trust, and neighborliness feels fundamentally different from other states. Tyler and Sarah explain how the inn has become a hub for Free Staters, visitors, and future movers looking to experience New Hampshire before relocating. The episode highlights how building businesses, community, and culture on the ground is central to keeping the “Live Free or Die” spirit alive.

Matt Whitlock shares his journey from discovering libertarian ideas during the Ron Paul Revolution to ultimately moving to New Hampshire in 2010. He describes how the Free State community helped cultivate one of the earliest and most active Bitcoin ecosystems in the world, including the weekly Bitcoin meetups and his role in building one of the first prototype Bitcoin ATMs. Matt explains his involvement in the Save the Quill effort, where he helped secure the purchase of the original liberty clubhouse to keep it in community hands. He then introduces his latest project, Porcupine Properties, a tokenized real-estate investment company that uses blockchain technology to let people collectively invest in rental properties. Matt closes by emphasizing the importance of building parallel institutions so they’re ready when legacy systems inevitably fail.Matt's talk "Elliptic Curve Cryptography, the Foundation of Bitcoin" can be found here: https://youtu.be/JszfLU4ysEM?si=K6l2tB2TZjCFvGgl

Eric catches up with Carla Gericke—President Emeritus and current Board Chair of the Free State Project—to talk about the movement’s growth and direction. They dive into why Free Staters are increasingly recognized as the best neighbors in New Hampshire, despite critics’ attempts to paint them otherwise. Carla shares insights on building local resilience, expanding liberty culture, and strengthening community networks across the state. They also discuss upcoming events, new initiatives, and the importance of mobilizing independent-minded Granite Staters. If you’re curious about life in the Free State or how liberty is being built on the ground, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

This episode dives into the spirit of gratitude at the heart of the Free State community, highlighting the relationships, support, and shared purpose that make New Hampshire feel like home for liberty lovers. Eric and Chris reflect on the unique strength of this movement—one built not just on political wins, but on real human connection and a culture of showing up for one another. They explore how engagement, volunteerism, and friendship continue to fuel the momentum that draws people from across the country. It’s a warm, reflective conversation about why building freedom starts with building community, and a celebration of the people who make the Free State Project thrive.

Eric unveils major updates for the Free State movement, including the official launch of ticket sales for the 2026 New Hampshire Liberty Forum. He’s joined by Free State Project founder Jason Sorens to explore the event’s history, new dialog series, and the “Build Freedom” theme shaping this year’s programming. Together, they break down what attendees can expect—from main-stage speakers like economist Bob Murphy to intimate Liberty-in-Practice discussions capped at 25 participants. Eric also highlights recent growth in Porcupine Patrons, shares a fiery “love letter” from a legislative adversary, and recaps ongoing outreach across New England. If you want an inside look at the most effective liberty movement in America, this episode lays out why New Hampshire is leading the way. Tickets and details are available now at NHLibertyForum.com.