Exploring how technology changes our relationship to power, each other, and ourselves.<br /><br /><br />Making sense of the techno-acceleration, Alex Murshak conducts in-depth interviews on the philosophy of technology. Hacking State is about doing more with less, pushing limitations, and finding gainful exploits at every level of the human operating system; from minds, to bodies, to tools, organizations, governments, and higher order social systems.<br /><br /><br />Heidegger describes the nature of technology as a kind of revealing. It remains to be seen where and whether technology gives us Nietzschean will-to-power-like mastery over nature and ourselves or, as Plato warns, we are liable to be lead astray by novel ideas. Our capacity to harness nature has never been greater. Science and technology have unlocked immense power. Yet the human animal remains remarkably similar across millennia. In such a situation, discernment is our greatest asset. It is our relationship to ourselves, our systems, and one another, that will determine our future.
Hacking State
Claim This Podcastby Alex Murshak
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Podcast Overview
Exploring how technology changes our relationship to power, each other, and ourselves.<br /><br /><br />Making sense of the techno-acceleration, Alex Murshak conducts in-depth interviews on the philosophy of technology. Hacking State is about doing more with less, pushing limitations, and finding gainful exploits at every level of the human operating system; from minds, to bodies, to tools, organizations, governments, and higher order social systems.<br /><br /><br />Heidegger describes the nature of technology as a kind of revealing. It remains to be seen where and whether technology gives us Nietzschean will-to-power-like mastery over nature and ourselves or, as Plato warns, we are liable to be lead astray by novel ideas. Our capacity to harness nature has never been greater. Science and technology have unlocked immense power. Yet the human animal remains remarkably similar across millennia. In such a situation, discernment is our greatest asset. It is our relationship to ourselves, our systems, and one another, that will determine our future.
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Publishing Since
5/25/2023
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Recent Episodes
March 24, 2026
58 - Aidan Beshoff: Below the Surface of the Mind
I sit down with Aidan Beshoff, a qualified hypnotist, certified practitioner of clinical hypnotherapy, past life regression, QHHT, and ceremonial magick, and the founder of Higher Self Hypnosis. For the past five years, Aidan has helped others overcome deep subconscious patterns through an unconventional path that bridges ancient wisdom and modern science. Our conversation begins with Aidan's own story — hitting a breaking point during COVID after years of anxiety and depression, and discovering meditation as a gateway into the subconscious mind. He describes the subconscious as a dimension of ourselves that extends beyond what we can directly perceive, using the iceberg model and a VR simulation analogy to illustrate the relationship between conscious awareness and the deeper layers beneath it. We discuss why the subconscious is so difficult to study empirically, and why that difficulty has kept practices like hypnosis in the same category as witchcraft until relatively recently. We then turn to the mechanics of hypnosis itself — what differentiates it from meditation, how it employs imagery, symbolism, and emotion to bypass the conscious mind's filtering layer, and why suggestibility and agreeability are such critical factors in whether hypnosis works for a given person. Aidan walks through the surprising efficacy data: a 70-80% success rate for chronic pain versus only 40-45% for addiction, and explains why — with addiction, part of you still does not want to change, whereas with pain, all systems are on board except the one that isn't. The conversation goes into deeper territory as we explore past life regression. Aidan argues you don't need to believe in reincarnation for the practice to be useful — the subconscious is essentially painting a movie you can extract wisdom from, drawing from what he describes as a collective source. He shares that people with narrow belief systems tend to regress to childhood, while those with broader frameworks have reported experiences on different planets or as pure energy. The point, he insists, is never who you were but why you had that experience. We close with Aidan's personal motivation — a childhood obsession with fantasy and magic that was stripped away during adolescence, and how engaging with these practices remystified his life. He describes ceremonial magick as "a cross-section between art and math," and likens these practices to becoming a better surfer: they don't take away the waves, but they make you better at riding them. Aidan on Instagram: @hi.subconscious | @higherselfhypno SIGN UP for the Hacking State newsletter: https://hackingstate.substack.com/subscribe If you enjoyed this talk, please leave a review on Spotify/iTunes. Listen on: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@alexmurshak Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hacking-state/id1689677076 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1XB9XYULrAY4dp0qIJVvCg RSS: https://feed.podbean.com/hackingstate/feed.xml
February 3, 2026
57 - Rambo Van Halen Reports The Death of Hollywood
I sit down with Rambo Van Halen to discuss his new book, Hollywood Samizdat, released through Passage Press, which serves as a personal account of his experiences in the film industry. What was initially intended as a farewell letter to the film industry turned into a more profound reflection—a kind of obituary for a once-thriving sector that he believes is no longer what it used to be. Rambo candidly shares his thoughts on the decline of traditional Hollywood, describing it as a significant loss of artistry and craftsmanship.Rambo highlights the impact of a changing media landscape, drastically altered by feminization, economics, and risk aversion. He discusses the industry's shift away from original content, with more emphasis on sequels and remakes due to a fear of financial loss. This risk-averse culture, combined with the effects of technology and changing societal norms, has led to what he describes as a disheartening era for filmmakers and audiences alike. He reflects on his experiences as a line producer, navigating the complex and often dysfunctional dynamics of film sets characterized by power struggles among executives and a new wave of corporate governance.Rambo candidly shares his thoughts about the corporatization of the industry, attributing the dilution of creativity to a more collaborative but ultimately less decisive approach in decision-making—thanks to the impact of movements like Me Too. We explore the implications of this shift and how it has led to a creative landscape dominated by committee decision-making rather than inspired artistry. The contradictions inherent in this new environment are further complicated by the influx of technology companies entering the film space and their obsession with metrics. This has changed how stories are created and the type of content that gets greenlit, raising questions about the integrity of artistic expression.Throughout our conversation, we reflect on the intersection of identity politics and filmmaking, discussing how diversity initiatives have prioritized representation over competence. Rambo shares anecdotes of the industry's changing dynamics, particularly the challenges of maintaining a meritocratic environment in light of new hiring practices. He draws parallels between Hollywood and the tech industry to highlight the broader implications of these shifts across various sectors.As the discussion winds down, Rambo shares his vision for the future of entertainment—exploring potential avenues outside of traditional filmmaking and the unique opportunities for live performance. We contemplate the value that humanity places on genuine, shared experiences in a world increasingly moving toward digital isolation.This conversation offers a multifaceted view of the contemporary film industry, reflecting on its past glory and the challenges moving forward. Rambo's insights provide not only a personal narrative but also a broader commentary on the state of creativity, audience engagement, and the future of storytelling in an increasingly fragmented media landscape. LINKS: Rambo on X: https://x.com/RamboVanHalen Buy Book, Hollywood Samizdat: https://passage.press/products/hollywood-samizdat SIGN UP for the Hacking State newsletter: https://hackingstate.substack.com/subscribe If you enjoyed this talk, please leave a review on Spotify/iTunes. Listen on: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@alexmurshak Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hacking-state/id1689677076 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1XB9XYULrAY4dp0qIJVvCg RSS: https://feed.podbean.com/hackingstate/feed.xml
January 13, 2026
56 - The Machine that Makes the Machine with Matt Parlmer
Matt Parlmer is the founder and CEO of General Fabrication Company, a self-reproducing factory company. We cover the origins of Gen Fab in the realization that we now have the tools to build machines that build themselves (see: The Von Neumann Constructor), the possibilities created by small modular manufacturing in electronics, robotic wet labs, and more; building a vertically integrated industrial company, light industrial parts farms, the need for American industrial policy to include civilian industry in re-industrialization strategy, levers for re-shoring American manufacturing, the unexpected passing of our good friend, Nick Simmons, and the future of General Fabrication. Links: Support Nick Simmons' wife and family's GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/honoring-nick-simmons-life-and-legacy Matt Parlmer's memorial post for Nick Simmons: https://mattparlmer.substack.com/p/remembering-nick-simmons General Fabrication website: https://www.genfab.co/ Matt Parlmer on X: https://x.com/mattparlmer General Fabrication on X: https://x.com/genfabco SIGN UP for the Hacking State newsletter: https://hackingstate.substack.com/subscribe If you enjoyed this talk, please leave a review on Spotify/iTunes. Listen on: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@alexmurshak Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hacking-state/id1689677076 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1XB9XYULrAY4dp0qIJVvCg RSS: https://feed.podbean.com/hackingstate/feed.xml
58 total episodes available with 1 transcripts
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Kyle Housley
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Charles Herrman
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Cody Moser
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