On Episode 154 of The TLB Podcast, James welcomes back author and researcher Ronnie Pontiac to discuss his two new books, The Rosicrucian Counterculture and The Unobstructed Way.

Through The Rosicrucian Counterculture, they explore the origins of the Rosicrucian movement, its early manifestos, common misinterpretations, the evolution of Rosicrucian thought from the Scientific Revolution through modern countercultural movements, its influence on European intellectual history, mysticism, alchemy, liberty, and individuality — and how these ideas continue to echo today.

Through The Unobstructed Way, James and Ronnie examine the remarkable love story of Stuart and Betty White, their exploration of mediumship, and the spiritual philosophy of the “unobstructed universe.” Ronnie shares his personal journey of loss following the passing of his wife and co-author Tamra Lucid, and reflects on how Tamra is continuing their work, and the work of the White’s, through spiritual communication.

This episode moves from esoteric history to intimate spiritual reflection, exploring grief, transformation, love, and the possibility that consciousness extends beyond physical limitation.

Support the Show
Early access on Patreon → https://tinyurl.com/mva2z9se
Audio-only on Spotify → https://tinyurl.com/ytfnwx6s

Connect with Ronnie Pontiac
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/theronniepontiac
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@ronniepontiac
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@theronniepontiac
Medium → https://ronniepontiac.medium.com/
Substack → https://ronniepontiac.substack.com/

Referenced Books
“The Rosicrucian Counterculture” → https://a.co/d/0c9M3fJM
“The Unobstructed Way” → https://a.co/d/04hmdBoK

Chapters
00:00 - Intro
06:32 - Rosicrucians and the Scientific Revolution
12:04 - Rudolf II and Prague
17:18 - Rise of Rosicrucianism in Europe
24:11 - The Confusion Surrounding Rosicrucian Ideals
30:50 - Rosicrucianism in Modern Culture
43:06 - Frederick V
49:42 - John Winthrop the Younger: A Rosicrucian in America
55:43 - Winthrop’s Legacy
01:01:17 - Liberty and Individuality
01:22:15 - The Extraordinary Love Story of Stuart and Betty White
01:30:46 - Exploring the Unobstructed Universe
01:47:50 - Transformation and Spiritual Connection
02:02:24 - Messages from Beyond
02:12:56 - Love and Loss
02:20:31 - Grief and the Unobstructed Self
02:30:21 - Connection and Transformation

#Rosicrucianism #Mysticism #Alchemy #Counterculture #Spirituality #Metaphysics #ScientificRevolution #Mediumship #Consciousness #LoveAndLoss #Freedom #Individuality #SpiritualCommunication #EsotericHistory #TheTLBPod

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On Episode 153 of The TLB Podcast, James welcomes back researcher Doireann Herold for Part Two of their deep dive into the mysteries of the Voynich manuscript, and the challenges of translating one of history’s most enigmatic texts.

They discuss the cartographic foldouts and potential connections to historical geography, maritime trade routes, phonetic structures, Celtic alphabet and symbolism, and the flora and fauna referenced throughout the pages — while also addressing the cultural exchange networks that may have shaped the manuscript’s creation.

They also get into the cult-like dynamics within niche research communities, the importance of open collaboration, and how expanding public engagement may unlock new interpretive pathways - furthering the search for meaning within one of the world’s most puzzling historical artifacts.

Support the Show
Early access on Patreon → https://tinyurl.com/mva2z9se
Audio-only on Spotify → https://tinyurl.com/ytfnwx6s

Connect with Doireann Herold
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@blesst_butt
Substack → https://blesstbutt.substack.com/
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@blesst_butt

Chapters
00:00 - Intro
03:10 - Linguistic Breakthroughs and Challenges
05:53 - Collaboration and Community Engagement
08:58 - New Insights
11:55 - Flora and Fauna: Translating Botanical References
14:28 - Eels and Hagfish Slime
16:58 - Cartography and Rope Making
22:23 - The “Latin” Inscriptions & Cliffs of Moher Theory
25:24 - The Final Page Translation: Rope, Kern & Instructional Text
28:30 - Hagfish Slime: Medieval Fiber Technology?
33:54 - Medieval Rope-Making & Rotary Mechanisms
36:52 - The Fold-Out “Cartography Map” Explained
54:04 - Maritime Trade Route: Athens to Ireland
01:05:05 - Lugano, Celtic Alphabets & The Geographic Center
01:17:46 - Maritime Trade, Scola & Knowledge Exchange
01:24:02 - Phonetics and Celtic Symbolism
01:27:13 - Celtic Crosses and Their Meanings
01:32:52 - The Manuscript's Purpose and Historical Context
01:38:04 - Cultural Exchange and Historical Communes
01:49:44 - The Future of Research and Knowledge Sharing

#VoynichManuscript #Linguistics #Translation #IrishLanguage #HistoricalResearch #Cartography #AncientTexts #CelticSymbolism #MedievalHistory #MaritimeTrade #LinguisticAnalysis #HistoricalMysteries #ResearchCommunity #TheTLBPod

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On Episode 152 of The TLB Podcast, James is joined by Preston Van Loon to explore how the precedent set by The Tornado Cash verdict isn’t just about crypto — it’s about whether privacy itself is still legal..

They break down the fundamental principles of blockchain technology, the importance of decentralization, and the growing tension between open-source development and government regulation. Preston shares his firsthand experience suing the United States Department of the Treasury, testifying in the Tornado Cash trial, and how the verdict could reshape developer liability, privacy rights, and financial freedom online.

The conversation also explores financial privacy, the role of zero-knowledge technology, and why privacy-preserving tools are essential to free expression and autonomy in the digital age.

Support the Show
Early access on Patreon → https://tinyurl.com/mva2z9se
Audio-only on Spotify → https://tinyurl.com/ytfnwx6s

Connect with Preston Van Loon
X → http://www.x.com/prestonvanloon.eth

Chapters
00:00 - Intro
02:51 - Understanding Blockchain Basics
06:01 - Preston's Journey into Crypto
08:59 - Financial Privacy
11:58 - Tornado Cash
15:09 - Government Response to Tornado Cash
20:54 - Winning the Lawsuit Against the Treasury
44:03 - Navigating Open Source Liability
45:27 - The Tornado Cash Trial
47:16 - Testifying in Court
51:12 - Jury's Verdict and Its Implications
01:02:08 - Impact of Developer Convictions
01:05:46 - Erosion of Privacy and Freedom
01:24:53 - Future of Privacy

#Blockchain #Cryptocurrency #TornadoCash #DigitalPrivacy #Ethereum #CryptoTrial #FinancialFreedom #GovernmentRegulation #OpenSource #ZeroKnowledge #FreeSpeech #Surveillance #PrestonVanLoon #TheTLBPod

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