It‘s Probably (not) Aliens! Elf on the Shelf Is A Cop
Oct 21, 2025
Dive into the unsettling world of surveillance as hosts uncover how ancient myths of divine watchers, from the Eye of Horus to the Anunnaki, reflect human strategies for social control. They explore Jeremy Bentham's panopticon, showing how societies have used surveillance to enforce compliance for millennia. With a humorous twist, hear about practical steps to reclaim your privacy in today's digital age and understand the eerie evolution of monitoring, from ancient temples to modern tech giants. Plus, a quirky redesign of Catholicism that includes nachos!
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Portrait Prank On Partner
- Tristan recounts hiding a huge close-up portrait of his child to prank his partner Kelly.
- He moves the portrait around the house to freak her out, including placing it in the car trunk and bed.
Watchers As Social Technology
- Ancient "watcher" myths likely evolved as social technology to imply surveillance and enforce order.
- Tristan argues this panopticon effect predates modern tech and shaped how societies accept monitoring.
Panopticon Enforces Compliance
- Jeremy Bentham designed the panopticon: a prison where possible observation enforces compliance.
- Bentham preserved his body as an auto-icon, illustrating his literal legacy of surveillance theory.
