The Porcupine Report with Eric Brakey

Eric shares his reflections on this year’s Porcupine Freedom Festival and introduces his featured speech, Revolution in the Granite Gulch, delivered Saturday morning at the event. He gives listeners a behind-the-scenes look at PorcFest 2025, including the emotional return of Ross Ulbricht, the growing momentum of the Free State Project, and the cultural shift toward liberty in New Hampshire. Eric also outlines a five-phase plan to scale the movement through outreach, events, and community-building. In his PorcFest speech, he challenges libertarian pessimism and makes the case for focusing on local victories rather than national gridlock. With humor, insight, and urgency, he calls on liberty-lovers to become active builders of a free society in our lifetimes.

With Eric at PorcFest this week, please enjoy his talk from PorcFest 2024 about his journey from neoconservative to libertarian activist, sparked by Ron Paul's influence. He recounts his transformation from a war-supporting teenager to a key player in the Ron Paul Revolution, including his leadership in the dramatic takeover of the 2012 Maine Republican Convention. Brakey describes how that experience set him on a path through state politics, federal campaigns, and ultimately to his new role as Executive Director of the Free State Project. He emphasizes the success of New Hampshire's liberty movement in pushing back statism and building a true free state. His speech ends on a hopeful note, declaring that the torch of liberty now burns brightest in New Hampshire.

Matt Kibbe joins the Eric to discuss his documentary Off the Grid with Thomas Massie, highlighting the congressman's off-the-grid lifestyle and principled stand for liberty. Kibbe explains how Massie’s independence from Washington power structures gives him the courage to challenge establishment narratives, including Donald Trump’s big-spending policies. They explore the growing tension within the Republican Party between libertarian-minded figures like Massie and Rand Paul and the authoritarian tendencies of figures like Stephen Miller. Kibbe emphasizes the value of bottom-up cultural change and decentralized activism, praising New Hampshire's Free State Project as a model. He also discusses his new film, The Red Line, about Georgian winemakers resisting Soviet central planning.

Ross Ulbricht, creator of the Silk Road and a central figure in the early crypto movement, is now a free man—and will be making his first-ever PorcFest appearance this month! Eric and guest Martha Bueno reflect on the long road to Ross's release, highlighting the libertarian community's unwavering support over more than a decade. They introduce Mothers Against Cruel Sentencing, co-founded by Lynn Ulbricht, to continue fighting for victims of unjust, victimless-crime convictions. The conversation also explores Ross's Bitcoin legacy, debates over decentralization, and the importance of unity within the liberty movement. It's a celebration of persistence, justice, and the power of community activism.To Learn more about MACS, visit: MothersAgainstCruelSentencing.org

Aaron Day joins the show to share his journey into the liberty movement, including his early business ventures, his political activism in New Hampshire, and how federal overreach radicalized him. He focuses on the threats posed by central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and how current stablecoin regulations are paving the way for digital financial control. Aaron also discusses the persecution of crypto advocates like Roger Ver and Ian Freeman as part of a broader crackdown on financial freedom. He emphasizes the urgency of adopting privacy-preserving crypto tools and previews his upcoming programming at PorcFest, aimed at reigniting grassroots energy in the crypto-liberty space.

Eric welcomes four special guests to explore the excitement surrounding this year’s PorcFest, taking place June 16–22. Representing Edge, Pirate Chain, Destination Freedom, and Anarchapulco, the guests introduce the Exit Lounge—a dynamic collaboration centered on privacy, cryptocurrency, and personal sovereignty. Together, they share their vision of empowering individuals through decentralized finance, privacy-enhancing technologies, and hands-on tools for living freely.This episode dives into the evolution of PorcFest, its welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere, and the expanding role of crypto in the liberty movement. Festival-goers are invited to visit the Exit Lounge to discover how to “exit fiat” and take control of their financial future.Tickets are available now at PorcFest.com—use code GraniteGulch for 10% off!To learn more about the guests' projects from this episode, visit the links below:http://anarchapulco.com/https://edge.apphttp://destinationfreedom.org/https://piratechain.com

Executive Director of Citizens for Sound Money, Daniel Diaz, joins the program to discuss the nationwide push to restore gold and silver as legal tender. Daniel shares major legislative victories in states like Florida and Missouri, the role of sound money in protecting economic freedom, and the legacy of the late Jim Forsythe. He also explains the practical benefits of legal tender laws and the future of gold- and silver-backed digital currencies. Don’t miss this deep dive into the growing sound money movement with one of its leading voices.

Joshua Groth and Josh Swift join the Porcupine Report to share their unique journeys into the world of Bitcoin and personal freedom. Groth, an adventure athlete, explains how discovering Bitcoin gave him the power to save, invest in his future, and rethink what truly matters. Swift recounts the incredible story of finding a long-lost bitcoin wallet—first connecting with Groth at PorcFest and, with the help of  Groth and his team, recovering a life-changing amount of Bitcoin. They also discuss Bitcoin self-custody, quantum computing threats, and the environmental impact of mining, while making a powerful case for Bitcoin as both a store of value and a path to greater liberty.Get your tickets for the next PorcFest at porcfest.com

Eric shares the stage with Jack Hunter and Jp Cortez at YALCON Atlanta to discuss the legacy of Dr. Ron Paul. They emphasize how Ron Paul’s campaigns significantly reshaped American political discourse—especially within the Republican Party—by introducing anti-war, pro-liberty, and sound money ideas. They marvel at the way his presence was disruptive but transformative, catalyzing a new generation of liberty-minded activists, many of whom now hold leadership positions. They also discuss how Dr. Paul’s unwavering commitment to principle—especially when unpopular—earned him respect across ideological lines.

Eric Brakey speaks with Young Americans for Liberty student activists at Westfield State University in Massachusetts, sharing powerful insights on how to effectively fight for liberty—and why New Hampshire is the best place to do it. The conversation included engaging questions from the audience, sparking thoughtful discussion and deeper exploration of the liberty movement.