The Zach Show

#287 - Palantir, Anduril, SpaceX: Who’s Really Deciding the Future of War?

On this episode of The Zach Show, Andrew Iliadis explains how companies like Palantir, Anduril, and SpaceX are reshaping warfare, surveillance, and state power by building autonomous defense technologies faster than governments can regulate them. He traces the roots of this shift to post-9/11 defense expansion, cloud computing, and Silicon Valley’s deep ties to military funding. By analyzing Palantir’s patents and products, Iliadis argues these firms don’t just analyze data, they define reality through “ontology,” shaping who is watched, predicted, detained, or targeted. When prediction becomes policy and private tech sets the agenda, democratic oversight struggles to keep up.Guest bio: Andrew Iliadis is an Associate Professor of Media Studies and Production at Temple University’s Klein College of Media and Communication. His research examines how data science, AI, and digital infrastructure are reshaping media, governance, and power, with a focus on surveillance, automated decision-making, and national defense. He is the author of Semantic Media and the forthcoming Autonomous Defense (UC Press, 2026), and serves on multiple editorial boards. Subscribe to The Zach Show 2.0 to gain early access to all future episodes, exclusive AMAs, the ability to suggest guest questions, bonus content, and more: https://thezachshow.supercast.com/Clarification: As noted by Andrew, Intel and Fairchild Semiconductor were founded after World War II and emerged from a Silicon Valley ecosystem shaped by WWII-era defense research and military contracting (e.g., Fairchild Camera, HP, Varian, and Stanford’s wartime mobilization). ANDREW ILIADIS LINKS:Website: https://andrewiliadis.com/CV: https://andrewiliadis.com/cv/Publications: https://andrewiliadis.com/publications/Autonomous Defense (Book) Coming Soon on UC Press: https://bit.ly/4t37uEa THE ZACH SHOW LINKS: The Zach Show 2.0: https://thezachshow.supercast.com/Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3zaS6sPYouTube: https://bit.ly/3lTpJdjWebsite: https://www.auxoro.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/auxoroTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thezachshowpod If you’re not ready to subscribe to The Zach Show 2.0, rating the show on Spotify or Apple Podcasts is free and massively helpful. It boosts visibility, helps new listeners discover the show, and keeps this chaos alive. Thank you: Rate The Zach Show on Spotify: https://bit.ly/43ZLrAtRate The Zach Show on Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/458nbha 

#286 - The Epstein Files 'Christmas Dump': Clinton, Trump, Prince Andrew, & The 10 Co-Conspirators

For years, the Epstein story sat half-exposed and half-buried—until the DOJ quietly released over 40,000 files. In this episode, investigative biographer Andrew Lownie breaks down what actually matters: missing evidence, sanitized redactions, and an investigation that admits to 10 co-conspirators yet charged only one person. From Clinton and Trump to Prince Andrew, the files suggest not incompetence, but protection.   Guest bio: Andrew Lownie is an award-winning investigative biographer, journalist, and publisher, widely regarded as one of Britain’s most relentless royal historians. He is the author of Traitor King, The Mountbattens, and his latest book Entitled, which examines Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson. Known for deep archival research and award-winning writing, Lownie has built a reputation for exposing power, corruption, and institutional cover-ups at the highest levels of the British establishment. Subscribe to The Zach Show 2.0 to gain early access to all future episodes, exclusive AMAs, the ability to suggest guest questions, bonus content, and more: https://thezachshow.supercast.com/ ANDREW LOWNIE LINKSEntitled: https://bit.ly/3YpacFTWebsite: https://andrewlownie.me/Substack: https://andrewlownie.substack.com/All Books: https://andrewlownie.me/books THE ZACH SHOW LINKS: The Zach Show 2.0: https://thezachshow.supercast.com/Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3zaS6sPYouTube: https://bit.ly/3lTpJdjWebsite: https://www.auxoro.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/auxoroTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thezachshowpod If you’re not ready to subscribe to The Zach Show 2.0, rating the show on Spotify or Apple Podcasts is free and massively helpful. It boosts visibility, helps new listeners discover the show, and keeps this chaos alive. Thank you: Rate The Zach Show on Spotify: https://bit.ly/43ZLrAtRate The Zach Show on Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/458nbha

#285 - S*x, Power, Epstein, and the Crown: The Prince Andrew COVERUP | Andrew Lownie

Investigative biographer Andrew Lownie joins the show to unpack the rise and fall of Prince Andrew, from his troubled childhood and war-hero image to financial corruption, Epstein, and royal protection at the highest levels. We explore Andrew’s marriage to Sarah Ferguson, the Trade Envoy scandals, intelligence entanglements, the Virginia Giuffre case, the infamous Newsnight interview, Andrew's and Fergie's relationship to Epstein, and why Lownie believes the monarchy enabled Andrew for decades.  Guest bio: Andrew Lownie is an award-winning investigative biographer, journalist, and publisher, widely regarded as one of Britain’s most relentless royal historians. He is the author of Traitor King, The Mountbattens, and his latest book Entitled, which examines Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson. Known for deep archival research and award-winning writing, Lownie has built a reputation for exposing power, corruption, and institutional cover-ups at the highest levels of the British establishment. Subscribe to The Zach Show 2.0 to gain early access to all future episodes, exclusive AMAs, the ability to suggest guest questions, bonus content, and more: https://thezachshow.supercast.com/ ANDREW LOWNIE LINKSEntitled: https://bit.ly/3YpacFTWebsite: https://andrewlownie.me/Substack: https://andrewlownie.substack.com/All Books: https://andrewlownie.me/books THE ZACH SHOW LINKS: The Zach Show 2.0: https://thezachshow.supercast.com/Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3zaS6sPYouTube: https://bit.ly/3lTpJdjWebsite: https://www.auxoro.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/auxoroTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thezachshowpod If you’re not ready to subscribe to The Zach Show 2.0, rating the show on Spotify or Apple Podcasts is free and massively helpful. It boosts visibility, helps new listeners discover the show, and keeps this chaos alive. Thank you: Rate The Zach Show on Spotify: https://bit.ly/43ZLrAtRate The Zach Show on Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/458nbha

#284 - The Great EPSTEIN FILES Fallout: Mossad, Michael Wolff, Missing Cameras, & Trump Knew?

In this episode of The Zach Show, we break down the most explosive new Jeffrey Epstein revelations following the release of 20,000+ estate documents and Trump’s order to disclose government files. We cover claims that Trump “knew about the girls,” secret emails showing journalist Michael Wolff advising Epstein on Trump strategy, and FBI footage that undermines the official jailhouse timeline. We revisit the alleged 2017 Thanksgiving with Trump, the Prince Andrew photo, and speculation around Melania’s early connection to Epstein’s modeling pipeline. We also examine Epstein’s global network — Israel ties, cyberweapons financing, intelligence links — and ask the real question: how did he become untouchable? This is only the first half of the episode on Jeffrey Epstein. To get the full episode (audio and video), subscribe to The Zach Show 2.0 today: https://thezachshow.supercast.com/ THE ZACH SHOW LINKS: The Zach Show 2.0: https://thezachshow.supercast.com/Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3zaS6sPYouTube: https://bit.ly/3lTpJdjWebsite: https://www.auxoro.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/auxoroTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thezachshowpod If you’re not ready to subscribe to The Zach Show 2.0, rating the show on Spotify or Apple Podcasts is free and massively helpful. It boosts visibility, helps new listeners discover the show, and keeps this chaos alive. Thank you: Rate The Zach Show on Spotify: https://bit.ly/43ZLrAtRate The Zach Show on Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/458nbha 

#283 - Scott Carney: How The Wellness Boom Became A GRIFTER Factory | EXPOSING The Griftoverse

Investigative journalist ‪Scott Carney‬ joins Zach to trace his wild path from exposing India’s organ and human-remains trade to uncovering the dark psychology behind modern wellness gurus. Carney recounts the tragic death of a student who believed she’d achieved enlightenment, revealing how spiritual seeking can slide into psychosis. He explains how fame and money transformed figures like Wim Hof and Andrew Huberman, breaking down Huberman’s controversial ROKA partnership and why “science” is now for sale. Finally, Scott warns we’re entering “peak grift," a new era where charisma, sponsorships, and algorithmic worship turn wellness into the most profitable con of all. Guest bio: Scott Carney is an investigative journalist, anthropologist, and New York Times bestselling author known for exposing the dark underbelly of global wellness, spirituality, and black-market economies. His work has uncovered India’s organ trade, the dangers of extreme meditation, and the rise of modern health grifters. Through books like What Doesn’t Kill Us, The Red Market, and The Enlightenment Trap, Carney blends immersive reporting with sharp cultural critique to reveal uncomfortable truths. This is only the first half of the episode with Todd Purdum. To get the full episode (audio and video), subscribe to The Zach Show 2.0 today: https://thezachshow.supercast.com/ SCOTT CARNEY LINKS:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sgcarneySubstack: https://sgcarney.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sgcarneyPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/sgcarneyWebsite: https://www.scottcarney.com/ THE ZACH SHOW LINKS: The Zach Show 2.0: https://thezachshow.supercast.com/Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3zaS6sPYouTube: https://bit.ly/3lTpJdjWebsite: https://www.auxoro.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/auxoroTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thezachshowpod If you’re not ready to subscribe to The Zach Show 2.0, rating the show on Spotify or Apple Podcasts is free and massively helpful. It boosts visibility, helps new listeners discover the show, and keeps this chaos alive. Thank you: Rate The Zach Show on Spotify: https://bit.ly/43ZLrAtRate The Zach Show on Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/458nbha