About This Episode:
Investigating the hidden forces behind history and power — and today we’re breaking down economic warfare with John Perkins, author of Confessions of an Economic Hitman.
In this interview, Perkins explains how “economic hitmen” targeted resource-rich countries, pushed massive World Bank/IMF loan packages, and used debt as leverage to extract concessions: cheap access to oil and resources, privatization, and even military bases. We also discuss the propaganda and perception-management campaigns used to justify regime change — and why Perkins says the same playbook still shapes global politics today.
We cover:
✅ What an “economic hitman” actually does
✅ How debt traps work (World Bank → IMF conditionalities)
✅ The corporatocracy + revolving door problem
✅ Why resisting the system can be dangerous
✅ “Death economy” vs “life economy” — and what changes the incentive structure
Guest: John Perkins
Book: Confessions of an Economic Hitman + Touching the Jaguar
Drop your question below: Is economic warfare the real engine behind modern conflict?
Key Moments:
- 00:00 Economic warfare & why it matters now
01:29 Introducing John Perkins (Confessions of an Economic Hitman)
03:05 “Perception creates reality” (Touching the Jaguar)
04:22 Why Perkins wrote Touching the Jaguar
05:53 Amazon shaman story: “Touch the Jaguar” (fear → action)
10:21 From Peace Corps to economist: the path to “economic hitman”
11:46 Recruited by the NSA + corporate pipeline
12:45 How the debt trap works (World Bank loans → corporations paid)
13:56 IMF conditionalities: the real leverage
15:44 Why GDP stats hide who actually benefits
16:01 What happens when leaders refuse
18:20 Roldós (Ecuador) & Torrijos (Panama) plane crashes
20:18 Perception campaigns & propaganda against opponents
21:15 “Death economy” vs “life economy” explained
25:10 Military spending vs rebuilding the world
27:02 How individuals pressure corporations to change
29:04 Why “success” drives elites (and how to redirect it)
30:07 Revolving door politics & predatory capitalism
33:25 Monopoly power & the collapse of real competition
35:10 Has the system come back to bite the U.S.?
36:14 Signs of change: benefit corps, conscious capitalism
37:14 Daily actions to transform fear into action
39:26 Where to find John Perkins + Touching the Jaguar
Visit My YouTube Channel!
https://www.youtube.com/@Jeremyryanslatebiz
Be sure to hit the subscribe button, like, share and tap the notification bell too
⇩ SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS ⇩
THE WELLNESS COMPANY: Health without the propaganda, emergency medical kits before you need it. Get 15% off now by using our link: https://twc.health/jrs
BRAVE TV HEALTH: Parasites are one of the main reasons that so many of our health problems happen! Guess what? They’re more active around the full moon. That’s why friend of the Show, Dr. Jason Dean, developed the Full Moon Parasite Protocol. Get 15% off now by using our link: https://bravetv.store/CYOL
________________________________________________________________
DOWNLOAD AUDIO PODCAST & GIVE A 5 STAR RATING!:
APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-create-your-own-life-show/id1059619918
SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/5UFFtmJqBUJHTU6iFch3QU
(also available Google Podcasts & wherever else podcasts are streamed
_________________________________________________________________
⇩ SOCIAL MEDIA ⇩
➤ X: https://twitter.com/jeremyryanslate
➤ INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyryanslate
➤ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/jeremyryanslate
_________________________________________________________________
➤ CONTACT: JEREMY@COMMANDYOURBRAND.COM