Badlands Story Hour

Chris Paul and Burning Bright take a deep dive into the 1962 classic The Manchurian Candidate, exploring its eerie relevance more than sixty years later. From predictive programming and narrative disarmament to MKUltra-style conditioning, they unravel how the film foreshadowed political assassinations, mass brainwashing, and the manipulation of public perception. The hosts connect Frank Sinatra’s role, Angela Lansbury’s chilling performance, and the film’s layered realities to modern psyops, false flags, and consensus formation in the information war. Along the way, they unpack concepts like intuition versus narrative, social incentive structures, and how propaganda conditions entire societies just as effectively as a programmed assassin. With sharp cultural insight and plenty of first-principles analysis, this episode challenges listeners to see through the storylines crafted for control and to resist the conditioning designed to keep us compliant. Tuesdays at 8:55 PM ET Episode Archive: https://rumble.com/playlists/PSp_1cx3i7s Discussion of entertainment, movies, and storytelling through the lens of one host from Hollywood (Chris Paul) and the other from the publishing industry (Burning Bright). Leave a Badlands Boost: https://badlandsmedia.tv/boost Sponsored by: • MyPillow https://www.mypillow.com/ Promo Code: BADLANDS Or call 800-795-5154 • SLNT Faraday Bags https://BadlandsMedia.tv/Faraday Promo Code: Badlands • Soft Disclosure https://SoftDisclosure.com Promo Code: BADLANDS Merch: https://badlandsmedia.tv/merch Follow & Support Badlands Media: https://linktr.ee/badlandsmediatv Our Daily Schedule: https://badlandsmedia.tv/schedule GART: Tickets/Information https://badlandsmedia.tv/events Interested in promoting your business? [email protected] Badlands Story Hour is: Burning Bright: https://twitter.com/reBurningBright https://truthsocial.com/@BurningBright Chris Paul: https://truthsocial.com/@imyourmoderator #ChrisPaul #BurningBright

Burning Bright and Chris Paul dig into Godzilla Minus One, Takashi Yamazaki’s striking 2023 take on the iconic monster. At first, the film feels like a standard kaiju entry, but it soon unfolds into a powerful character study and meditation on postwar Japan. The hosts break down Shikishima’s arc from cowardice to redemption, drawing parallels between his personal journey and Japan’s struggle with honor, shame, and survival in the shadow of humiliation. They highlight Yamazaki’s stunning visual effects, achieved on a fraction of a Hollywood budget, and the film’s refusal to explain away Godzilla—embracing him instead as a force of nature and a metaphor for existential threats. From kamikaze culture and engineered narratives to the lingering scars of national identity and the dangers of nihilism, Burning Bright and Chris Paul unpack why Godzilla Minus One resonates beyond its setting, offering lessons for sovereignty, resilience, and the fight against dehumanizing systems. A thoughtful and timely discussion that elevates a monster movie into a commentary on civilization itself. Tuesdays at 8:55 PM ET Episode Archive: https://rumble.com/playlists/PSp_1cx3i7s Discussion of entertainment, movies, and storytelling through the lens of one host from Hollywood (Chris Paul) and the other from the publishing industry (Burning Bright). Leave a Badlands Boost: https://badlandsmedia.tv/boost Sponsored by: • River BTC https://badlandsmedia.tv/River • Trezor Crypto Wallet https://badlandsmedia.tv/trezor • Soft Disclosure https://SoftDisclosure.com Promo Code: BADLANDS Merch: https://badlandsmedia.tv/merch Follow & Support Badlands Media: https://linktr.ee/badlandsmediatv Our Daily Schedule: https://badlandsmedia.tv/schedule GART: Tickets/Information https://badlandsmedia.tv/events Interested in promoting your business? [email protected] Badlands Story Hour is: Burning Bright: https://twitter.com/reBurningBright https://truthsocial.com/@BurningBright Chris Paul: https://truthsocial.com/@imyourmoderator #ChrisPaul #BurningBright

Chris Paul and Burning Bright dive into Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation, unpacking its themes of alienation, paradigm shifts, and fleeting human connection. They explore Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson’s unlikely bond in Tokyo, debating whether the film’s ambiguity makes it profound or pretentious. The hosts tackle Coppola’s directing choices, the infamous opening shot, and the controversy of Johansson’s age during filming, weighing how Hollywood’s “male gaze” and art-house ambitions collide. From existential dread to pseudo-intellectual musings, they contrast Murray’s weathered perspective with Johansson’s youthful searching, examining how both characters project fantasies of freedom while feeling trapped in different ways. Along the way, they connect the film’s commentary on identity and artifice to the decline of the modern movie star, social media overexposure, and Hollywood’s struggle to create new icons. The episode closes with reflections on ambiguous endings, fantasy vs. reality, and next week’s pick, M. Night Shyamalan’s Split. It’s a thoughtful, critical, and often humorous exploration of a movie that lingers long after the credits roll. Tuesdays at 8:55 PM ET Episode Archive: https://rumble.com/playlists/PSp_1cx3i7s Discussion of entertainment, movies, and storytelling through the lens of one host from Hollywood (Chris Paul) and the other from the publishing industry (Burning Bright). Leave a Badlands Boost: https://badlandsmedia.tv/boost Sponsored by: • River BTC https://badlandsmedia.tv/River • Trezor Crypto Wallet https://badlandsmedia.tv/trezor • Soft Disclosure https://SoftDisclosure.com Promo Code: BADLANDS Merch: https://badlandsmedia.tv/merch Follow & Support Badlands Media: https://linktr.ee/badlandsmediatv Our Daily Schedule: https://badlandsmedia.tv/schedule GART: Tickets/Information https://badlandsmedia.tv/events Interested in promoting your business? [email protected] Badlands Story Hour is: Burning Bright: https://twitter.com/reBurningBright https://truthsocial.com/@BurningBright Chris Paul: https://truthsocial.com/@imyourmoderator #ChrisPaul #BurningBright

Burning Bright and Chris Paul break down Andrew Niccol’s dystopian thriller In Time, where life itself is currency and timekeepers rule like central bankers. They explore the film’s on-the-nose parallels to fiat money, inflation, usury, and the Cantillon Effect, comparing its “time chain” to Bitcoin’s fixed protocol. The hosts connect themes of Darwinism, generational wisdom, and the emptiness of immortality to broader cultural critiques, highlighting how elites manipulate scarcity to control society. From Occupy Wall Street echoes to Trump’s populist judo flips, they frame the movie as both a cautionary tale and a mirror to our financial and political systems. With sharp insights, humor, and plenty of rabbit holes, from diamonds to decentralization, this episode shows why In Time still resonates as a metaphor for the theft of human energy and purpose. Tuesdays at 8:55 PM ET Episode Archive: https://rumble.com/playlists/PSp_1cx3i7s Discussion of entertainment, movies, and storytelling through the lens of one host from Hollywood (Chris Paul) and the other from the publishing industry (Burning Bright). Leave a Badlands Boost: https://badlandsmedia.tv/boost Sponsored by: • River BTC https://badlandsmedia.tv/River • Vanman https://BadlandsMedia.tv/Vanman • Soft Disclosure https://SoftDisclosure.com Promo Code: BADLANDS Merch: https://badlandsmedia.tv/merch Follow & Support Badlands Media: https://linktr.ee/badlandsmediatv Our Daily Schedule: https://badlandsmedia.tv/schedule GART: Tickets/Information https://badlandsmedia.tv/events Interested in promoting your business? [email protected] Badlands Story Hour is: Burning Bright: https://twitter.com/reBurningBright https://truthsocial.com/@BurningBright Chris Paul: https://truthsocial.com/@imyourmoderator #ChrisPaul #BurningBright

Chris Paul and Burning Bright dive into Isaac Asimov’s classic I, Robot, exploring the timeless questions it raises about technology, morality, and the human condition. They unpack the book’s famous Three Laws of Robotics and discuss how these guiding principles shape the conflicts between humans and machines in Asimov’s stories. The conversation highlights the ethical dilemmas of artificial intelligence, the tension between control and autonomy, and the parallels to today’s rapidly advancing tech landscape. With thoughtful analysis and engaging commentary, the hosts connect Asimov’s mid-20th century vision to modern debates on AI, surveillance, and the future of human freedom. Tuesdays at 8:55 PM ET Episode Archive: https://rumble.com/playlists/PSp_1cx3i7s Discussion of entertainment, movies, and storytelling through the lens of one host from Hollywood (Chris Paul) and the other from the publishing industry (Burning Bright). Leave a Badlands Boost: https://badlandsmedia.tv/boost Sponsored by: • River BTC https://badlandsmedia.tv/River • Trezor Crypto Wallet https://badlandsmedia.tv/trezor Merch: https://badlandsmedia.tv/merch Follow & Support Badlands Media: https://linktr.ee/badlandsmediatv Our Daily Schedule: https://badlandsmedia.tv/schedule GART: Tickets/Information https://badlandsmedia.tv/events Interested in promoting your business? [email protected] Badlands Story Hour is: Burning Bright: https://twitter.com/reBurningBright https://truthsocial.com/@BurningBright Chris Paul: https://truthsocial.com/@imyourmoderator #ChrisPaul #BurningBright

Burning Bright and Chris Paul dive into Badlands (1973), Terrence Malick’s haunting debut inspired by real-life events. They explore the film’s unsettling blend of beauty and brutality, following the crime spree of Kit and Holly across the American Midwest. The hosts unpack Malick’s unique storytelling style, the dreamlike cinematography, and how the film juxtaposes innocence with violence. Along the way, they discuss the performances of Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek, the sparse yet impactful dialogue, and the ways the film challenges viewers to question morality, influence, and the romanticizing of outlaws. It’s a layered conversation that connects the movie’s themes to broader cultural narratives, making this episode as thought-provoking as the film itself. Tuesdays at 8:55 PM ET Episode Archive: https://rumble.com/playlists/PSp_1cx3i7s Discussion of entertainment, movies, and storytelling through the lens of one host from Hollywood (Chris Paul) and the other from the publishing industry (Burning Bright). Leave a Badlands Boost: https://badlandsmedia.tv/boost Sponsored by: • River BTC https://badlandsmedia.tv/River • Trezor Crypto Wallet https://badlandsmedia.tv/trezor Merch: https://badlandsmedia.tv/merch Follow & Support Badlands Media: https://linktr.ee/badlandsmediatv Our Daily Schedule: https://badlandsmedia.tv/schedule GART: Tickets/Information https://badlandsmedia.tv/events Interested in promoting your business? [email protected] Badlands Story Hour is: Burning Bright: https://twitter.com/reBurningBright https://truthsocial.com/@BurningBright Chris Paul: https://truthsocial.com/@imyourmoderator #ChrisPaul #BurningBright

In Episode 128 of Badlands Story Hour, Chris Paul and Burning Bright take a deep dive into the iconic film Braveheart, using it as a lens to examine modern narrative warfare, institutional collapse, and the power of individual courage. Drawing parallels between William Wallace’s defiance of tyranny and today’s decentralized truth-tellers, the hosts explore how stories, both historical and fictional, shape our understanding of freedom, loyalty, and legacy. As legacy media and regime narratives continue to break down, this episode challenges listeners to consider who’s writing the story now, and whether we have the bravery to reclaim it. Tuesdays at 8:55 PM ET Episode Archive: https://rumble.com/playlists/PSp_1cx3i7s Discussion of entertainment, movies, and storytelling through the lens of one host from Hollywood (Chris Paul) and the other from the publishing industry (Burning Bright). Leave a Badlands Boost: https://badlandsmedia.tv/boost Sponsored by: • Burning Bright Publishing https://BadlandsMedia.tv/SwordPunk • Trezor Crypto Wallet https://badlandsmedia.tv/trezor Merch: https://badlandsmedia.tv/merch Follow & Support Badlands Media: https://linktr.ee/badlandsmediatv Our Daily Schedule: https://badlandsmedia.tv/schedule GART: Tickets/Information https://badlandsmedia.tv/events Interested in promoting your business? [email protected] Badlands Story Hour is: Burning Bright: https://twitter.com/reBurningBright https://truthsocial.com/@BurningBright Chris Paul: https://truthsocial.com/@imyourmoderator #ChrisPaul #BurningBright

In this episode of Badlands Story Hour, Chris Paul and Burning Bright dive deep into the satirical film Thank You for Smoking, examining its commentary on persuasion, propaganda, and personal freedom. The duo unpacks the complexity of Nick Naylor’s character, not as a villain, but as a truth-teller navigating a society addicted to moral posturing. They discuss the layered dynamics between tobacco, alcohol, and firearms in the cultural consciousness, the role of narrative warfare, and how modern programming conditions our collective assumptions. From AI's quiet takeover to geopolitical energy manipulation, this isn’t just a film discussion, it’s a dissection of how truth is packaged, sold, and suppressed. With cultural references ranging from the PayPal mafia’s producer credits to comparisons with Watchmen and Silicon Valley, the episode peels back the glossy veneer of storytelling to reveal a much darker, and sometimes liberating, core. Tuesdays at 8:55 PM ET Episode Archive: https://rumble.com/playlists/PSp_1cx3i7s Discussion of entertainment, movies, and storytelling through the lens of one host from Hollywood (Chris Paul) and the other from the publishing industry (Burning Bright). Leave a Badlands Boost: https://badlandsmedia.tv/boost Sponsored by: • River BTC https://badlandsmedia.tv/River • Trezor Crypto Wallet https://badlandsmedia.tv/trezor Merch: https://badlandsmedia.tv/merch Follow & Support Badlands Media: https://linktr.ee/badlandsmediatv Our Daily Schedule: https://badlandsmedia.tv/schedule GART: Tickets/Information https://badlandsmedia.tv/events Interested in promoting your business? [email protected] Badlands Story Hour is: Burning Bright: https://twitter.com/reBurningBright https://truthsocial.com/@BurningBright Chris Paul: https://truthsocial.com/@imyourmoderator #ChrisPaul #BurningBright

Chris Paul and Burning Bright dive deep into The Northman, exploring its grim aesthetic, Norse mythology, and literary roots in the legend of Amleth, the same myth that inspired Shakespeare’s Hamlet. They dissect the movie’s portrayal of fate, trauma, and identity, examining how the protagonist becomes a tragic vessel for vengeance after being spiritually and emotionally programmed by his father’s deathbed ritual. With nods to MK Ultra, paganism, and berserker myth, the hosts question whether Amleth ever had free will or was doomed from childhood. They contrast the film’s brutal worldview with Tolkien’s mythic optimism and explore the cultural shift from rooted moral frameworks to modern-day spiritual voids. The discussion expands to themes of slavery, regime control, and historical parallels, culminating in a sharp critique of pagan ritualism in both ancient and modern forms. This is one of the darkest and most complex entries in the Story Hour series, unflinching in its dissection of narrative, power, and spiritual warfare. Tuesdays at 9:00 PM ET Episode Archive: https://rumble.com/playlists/PSp_1cx3i7s Discussion of entertainment, movies, and storytelling through the lens of one host from Hollywood (Chris Paul) and the other from the publishing industry (Burning Bright). Leave a Badlands Boost: https://badlandsmedia.tv/boost Sponsored by: • My Fireside https://BadlandsMedia.tv/Fire • Loaded Gun Coffee https://badlandsmedia.tv/loaded Promo Code: Badlands Merch: https://badlandsmedia.tv/merch Follow & Support Badlands Media: https://linktr.ee/badlandsmediatv Our Daily Schedule: https://badlandsmedia.tv/schedule GART: Tickets/Information https://badlandsmedia.tv/events Interested in promoting your business? [email protected] Badlands Story Hour is: Burning Bright: https://twitter.com/reBurningBright https://truthsocial.com/@BurningBright Chris Paul: https://truthsocial.com/@imyourmoderator #ChrisPaul #BurningBright

Hosted by Burning Bright and Chris Paul, this episode revisits David Fincher’s 2011 film The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo with fresh eyes and hard questions. The hosts break down the film’s grim narrative of elite depravity, ritualistic abuse, and generational corruption, connecting it to real-world stories like Epstein, media psyops, and the weaponization of sexual crimes for cultural engineering. They examine how the film’s bleak view of masculinity, its heavy-handed depiction of Nazis, and its graphic scenes of violence and assault blurred the line between storytelling and exploitation. Alongside reflections on Hollywood’s complicity and the rise of the “strong female lead” archetype, the conversation veers into how narratives were shaped to seed public demoralization and prime the MeToo era. The hosts also debate whether such stories are cautionary tales or deliberate attempts to normalize the monstrous. As the discussion moves from film critique to cultural analysis, the episode offers a deeper look at how popular media can shape, distort, or reveal uncomfortable truths about the powerful. Tuesdays at 9:00 PM ET Episode Archive: https://rumble.com/playlists/PSp_1cx3i7s Discussion of entertainment, movies, and storytelling through the lens of one host from Hollywood (Chris Paul) and the other from the publishing industry (Burning Bright). Leave a Badlands Boost: https://badlandsmedia.tv/boost Sponsored by: • River BTC https://badlandsmedia.tv/River • Vanman https://BadlandsMedia.tv/Vanman Merch: https://badlandsmedia.tv/merch Follow & Support Badlands Media: https://linktr.ee/badlandsmediatv Our Daily Schedule: https://badlandsmedia.tv/schedule GART: Tickets/Information https://badlandsmedia.tv/events Interested in promoting your business? [email protected] Badlands Story Hour is: Burning Bright: https://twitter.com/reBurningBright https://truthsocial.com/@BurningBright Chris Paul: https://truthsocial.com/@imyourmoderator #ChrisPaul #BurningBright