Stuck In The Middle
Dear Brett, I have a lot of friends thank G-d, and am socially secure. Unfortunately, a lot of the time I find myself caught between drama I never intended to have anything to do with. My parents are very supportive of my social choices, and always encourage me to be there for my friends. However, they also encourage me to stay out of things I don't need to be involved in(I am a people pleaser:). I love helping my friends when they are having a rough time, but sometimes it gets really ridiculous and they "need" emotional support for something they made up in their head. How do I help them without making their problem my problem? Thank You so much! -Nikki F.
Stuck In The Middle
Dear Brett, I have a lot of friends thank G-d, and am socially secure. Unfortunately, a lot of the time I find myself caught between drama I never intended to have anything to do with. I grew up in a conservative and religious house, and the values of my parents have a lot to do with staying out of unnecessary situations(I am very much a people pleaser:). As much as I love helping my friends when they are having a rough time sometimes it gets really ridiculous and they "need" emotional support for something they made up in their head. How do I help them without making their problem my problem? Thank You so much! -Nikki F.
Stuck In The Middle
Dear Brett, I have a lot of friends thank G-d, and am socially secure. Unfortunately, a lot of the time I find myself caught between drama I never intended to have anything to do with. I love helping my friends when they are having a rough time, but sometimes it gets really ridiculous and they "need" emotional support for something they made up in their head. How do I help them without making their problem my problem? Thank You so much! -Nikki F.
Stuck In The Middle
Dear Brett, I have a lot of friends thank G-d, and am socially secure. Unfortunately, a lot of the time I find myself caught between drama I never intended to have anything to do with. I love helping my friends when they are having a rough time, but sometimes it gets really ridiculous and they "need" emotional support for something they made up in their head. How do I help them without making their problem my problem? Thank You so much! -Nikki F.
Friends as a 20-yr-old
Hi Brett! I want to start by saying that I love the videos you make and really admire your hard work. I am a 20 year old girl in college and I have what might be a silly question. Every time I watch one of your videos, I think to myself, “It would be awesome if I could be friends with her/ find friends like her”. I know I don’t know you personally, but I have been struggling so much trying to find people that get passionate about the same things as me. The issue isn’t even so much that I can’t find people who agree with me, but I feel like a lot of people (specifically girls) are very hard to talk to and actually start a friendship with. I have a boyfriend who I love very much, but I don’t have many friends outside of our relationship. I am trying to meet people and get to know them, but there never seems to be anyone who genuinely wants to be friends. Every interaction almost seems like a routine, polite conversation of no substance. I’m also at the point in my life where I don’t want to have meaningless friendships where I can’t truly be myself. I feel like even if I align with people religiously, morally, politically, etc. it’s always really hard to connect. The conversations lag and we never carry the same energy. I just wanted to ask you what your take on this is. Have you ever felt that way or shared this experience? I appreciate any input you can give!
Scared of WW3
Dear Brett, I’ve liked your content since I first discovered you three years ago, but I have found a major point of disagreement with you on the matter of foreign policy. I will explain my positions in a few paragraphs. Russia began opposing Ukraine's NATO integration in the early 2000s, particularly after Ukraine’s Orange Revolution in 2004, which moved the country closer to the West. The situation escalated in 2008 when NATO declared that Ukraine and Georgia would eventually become members, a move that Russia saw as a direct threat to its influence. Russia views NATO’s expansion as a security threat, fearing NATO presence on its borders. NATO was originally formed to counter Soviet expansionism after World War II and has undergone multiple phases of enlargement since the Cold War’s end. Each wave of expansion brought newly independent nations—many of them former Soviet republics or Warsaw Pact members—into a democratic and defensive alliance. Critics of enlargement have often claimed that this provoked Russia, but these countries actively sought NATO membership not because of coercion by the West, but because of legitimate fear of Russian dominance and historical patterns of aggression. The U.S. has supported NATO enlargement as a means of fostering stability in Eastern Europe. In 2008, Russia invaded Georgia, a pro-Western country that had expressed interest in joining NATO. Russian forces occupied the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, in clear violation of Georgia’s territorial integrity. The international community, led by the U.S., condemned the aggression, but the lack of a decisive response exposed a dangerous precedent. That precedent was tragically repeated in 2014, when Russia illegally annexed Crimea from Ukraine. This blatant violation of international law marked the first forceful seizure of European territory since World War II. Again, the United States stood with Ukraine, supporting sanctions against Russia and bolstering NATO’s presence in Eastern Europe. The invasion of Crimea was not only an attack on Ukrainian sovereignty but also a test of the West’s resolve to defend the post-Cold War order. NATO protection helped Eastern Europe prosper by providing security and stability, encouraging democratic reforms, and attracting foreign investment. With reduced conflict risk, countries like Poland and Romania became safe for business. NATO membership also supported integration with the West and paved the way for EU accession, boosting infrastructure and economic growth. Unlike NATO-aligned Eastern Europe, countries in the Russia-aligned bloc faced less political stability, weaker democratic institutions, and limited economic growth. Without strong Western investment or EU integration, economies remained more dependent on resource exports and state control. The United States has been indispensable to unifying Europe through its leadership in NATO. After World War II, the U.S. provided military protection that allowed European nations to focus on political and economic integration instead of military threats, creating the security stability needed for unity. U.S. support for NATO and the European Economic Community (EEC) laid the groundwork for further cooperation and integration among European countries. NATO’s principle of collective defense, championed by the U.S., fostered solidarity and trust among European nations, overcoming historical divisions. This world order is severely fractured right now. Without strong leadership from the Western world, we face the possibility of descending into chaos. If we don’t defuse the Ukraine situation, we might set the powder keg of Europe on fire. If we want to keep living in peace in these turbulent times, we need people like Ronald Reagan, Charles de Gaulle, and Margaret Thatcher, who kept the world safe and secure in the times of greatest geopolitical tension in history.
Scared of WW3
Dear Brett, I’ve liked your content since I first discovered you three years ago, but I have found a major point of disagreement with you on the matter of foreign policy. I will explain my positions in a few paragraphs. Russia began opposing Ukraine's NATO integration in the early 2000s, particularly after Ukraine’s Orange Revolution in 2004, which moved the country closer to the West. The situation escalated in 2008 when NATO declared that Ukraine and Georgia would eventually become members, a move that Russia saw as a direct threat to its influence. Russia views NATO’s expansion as a security threat, fearing NATO presence on its borders. NATO was originally formed to counter Soviet expansionism after World War II and has undergone multiple phases of enlargement since the Cold War’s end. Each wave of expansion brought newly independent nations—many of them former Soviet republics or Warsaw Pact members—into a democratic and defensive alliance. Critics of enlargement have often claimed that this provoked Russia, but these countries actively sought NATO membership not because of coercion by the West, but because of legitimate fear of Russian dominance and historical patterns of aggression. The U.S. has supported NATO enlargement as a means of fostering stability in Eastern Europe. In 2008, Russia invaded Georgia, a pro-Western country that had expressed interest in joining NATO. Russian forces occupied the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, in clear violation of Georgia’s territorial integrity. The international community, led by the U.S., condemned the aggression, but the lack of a decisive response exposed a dangerous precedent. That precedent was tragically repeated in 2014, when Russia illegally annexed Crimea from Ukraine. This blatant violation of international law marked the first forceful seizure of European territory since World War II. Again, the United States stood with Ukraine, supporting sanctions against Russia and bolstering NATO’s presence in Eastern Europe. The invasion of Crimea was not only an attack on Ukrainian sovereignty but also a test of the West’s resolve to defend the post-Cold War order. NATO protection helped Eastern Europe prosper by providing security and stability, encouraging democratic reforms, and attracting foreign investment. With reduced conflict risk, countries like Poland and Romania became safe for business. NATO membership also supported integration with the West and paved the way for EU accession, boosting infrastructure and economic growth. Unlike NATO-aligned Eastern Europe, countries in the Russia-aligned bloc faced less political stability, weaker democratic institutions, and limited economic growth. Without strong Western investment or EU integration, economies remained more dependent on resource exports and state control. The United States has been indispensable to unifying Europe through its leadership in NATO. After World War II, the U.S. provided military protection that allowed European nations to focus on political and economic integration instead of military threats, creating the security stability needed for unity. U.S. support for NATO and the European Economic Community (EEC) laid the groundwork for further cooperation and integration among European countries. NATO’s principle of collective defense, championed by the U.S., fostered solidarity and trust among European nations, overcoming historical divisions. This world order is severely fractured right now. Without strong leadership from the Western world, we face the possibility of descending into chaos. If we don’t defuse the Ukraine situation, we might set the powder keg of Europe on fire. If we want to keep living in peace in these turbulent times, we need people like Ronald Reagan, Charles de Gaulle, and Margaret Thatcher, who kept the world safe and secure in the times of greatest geopolitical tension in history.
In need of adventure.
Dear Brett, Normally I would ask someone a little bit older this kind of a question, but you seem wise for your age. As a 29-year-old man, I feel like a lot of life has passed me by. I think that when you have a satisfying life as you get older, getting older tends to be a little bit easier. But I feel like I haven't lived a life that was good. I've experienced homelessness, I've struggled with work for many years, and I feel somewhat lost. I think what I'm trying to say is I'm in desperate need of adventure. But as I've gotten older, I don't know if I can even have an adventure anymore. I want to settle down and have a family and I just don't have the same energy I used to. I also feel kind of like a failure because I didn't live on my own until recently. How do I find meaning and adventure? I don't want to die regretting my life but I already feel like I am.
Psychedelics and the heart
I was reading about the psychedelic called ibogaine. It appears that many of its side effects have to do with the heart. Arrhythmia is one effects stated. The other was QT Prolongation. I remember that in the SRS interview, you mentioned Long QT. So, ibogaine could have an especially bad side effect for people in your family. I'm sure that you do your own research. I just thought this may help.
Loved Your Panel at UVA
Dear Brett, I had the opportunity to attend your recent panel at UVA on marriage and motherhood, and I just wanted to say—you did a fantastic job! I especially loved your response to the Chappell Roan question and how it tied into the episode you released yesterday. I also really enjoyed Louise Perry’s commentary. How was the experience for you? Also, I have to say—it was absolutely adorable to see your husband in the audience. The look you gave him when you found him was the sweetest thing! Warm regards, Megan
Balancing Schizophrenic Sibling Love and Anger
Hi Brett! I started watching your videos a few months back after my mom told me she thought we’d be friends:) I’m a conservative 22 year old at The University of Chicago and lost many of my “friends” over the election (from me being overseas and simply choosing to not engage in their political discussions… fun story there!). I’m the only girl in my family, with one older and two younger brothers. My older brother is schizophrenic, and hearing your story has honestly been incredibly therapeutic for me. While I have a strong support system, it’s hard for anyone to truly understand what it’s like unless they've lived through something similar. My question is have you ever been through prolonged periods of anger towards your brother? How do you balance your love for him with the anger he provokes? For context, my brother is 2 years older than me, and for years now has gone through a cycle of fooling everyone outside of our family that he can live a normal life before it inevitably all falls apart. As of right now, he’s living in a paid-for apartment as he is no longer welcome at home due to disrespect and violent threats. He won’t accept any help (medical or otherwise), has no money of his own, and keeps spending my parents’ money without their consent trying to finish his undergrad degree at my university (an hour from home, whole other nightmare wondering if I’m going to run into him on campus). A few days back he totaled one of my parents' cars and reached out to me for the first time in months asking if he could use mine. I have so much anger towards the situation, but also him personally, as he is causing so much pain for my parents and our family. He is my brother and I will always love him, but as you’ve said, he’s never going to be the brother I once knew him to be. He’s currently going through an "anti-women" phase where he quite literally won’t acknowledge any women, so I was especially surprised when I received his text. I’m struggling to find any desire to have him in my life at this moment, but he is my brother… Have you gone through anything similar? PS: you should add a Chicago date to your tour!:)
I need help.
Hello, Im a 22 year old F who recently got their life flipped upside-down. To understand, I'll give you a little bit of background. I've grown up like most people in an abusive household. I have 5 siblings and went to church every Sunday. Recently at Christmas time my father almost killed me in a fit of rage he was having. I had had enough and talked to the cops and in this circumstance we figured my best option was to not pursue anything do to the fact I have 2 younger siblings who live at home with him and my mom, and I want to be close incase something happens. (I'm waiting to hear if CPS is going to give us a case worker.) Now I got engaged after this happened and I'm getting married this month. I didn't want to have my dad anywhere near my wedding, but now in order to have any of my family on that side I have to have him walk me down the aisle and do a first dance with me and I really don't want to. I guess my question is how do I know if I'm making the right decision? I want my mom and siblings there so I'm letting him do what he wants, but it's causing me so much grief to know he'll be there. Please give me any advice.
Improving as a Young Man
Dear Brett: It was a pleasure getting to see you in person at the farmers market, and meet some of the amazing people you work with. I am glad that your platform and new YouTube channel are doing so well. I am 28 years old and haven’t had much luck with dating or relationships. I get nervous at the thought of approaching women and worry about being labeled as a creep or making them feel uncomfortable. I often struggle with knowing what to say and find myself wrestling with thoughts that I am not good enough or qualified enough due to not meeting certain criteria, not making enough money, or not being a certain way. I have also been dealing with lust and a porn addiction for a good chunk of my life. It has often caused me to want to avoid people entirely at times and isolate myself out of shame. Content posted by guys in red pill spaces and women who seem to enjoy bashing men hasn’t helped either. Both types of content have made me feel discouraged about wanting to date and discouraged from even wanting to put myself out there. All that being said, I have been making strides to get better. I am getting help with my addiction and have seen significant progress towards breaking free. I am looking to find ways to get out of my comfort zone more and have cut out all content related to the red pill stuff and man bashing. I do wish to be a husband and a father someday and want to get better. My top priority is definitely breaking free from my addiction first, but I do wish to put myself out there more once I’ve broken free. How does a young man like myself go about navigating today’s dating culture and get better when it comes to approaching women and making conversation?
Making Friends As A Conservative In Middle School
Dear Brett My name is Eloise,and I’m approaching the end of my 8th grade year.For some context I go to a very liberal all girls school in Austin Texas that’s 6th grade through 12th grade ,and though I love it there it’s tough,every one I know there is is liberal or ‘trans’ it’s difficult being the outsider in every situation, friend's of mine will sometimes bring up politics and I’m always trying to seem not as conservative for fear that I will lose even more friends I’ve also become my schools token conservative I’m trying really hard to hold onto the friendships I have but it’s difficult to do that and not wiggle around questions or sometimes out right lie and it feels terrible,one time the day after the presidential election our literal principle came on the announcements and offered condolences to all of those hurt,that day I saw girls literally crying in the halls.Things have even gotten hard at home one time the topic of abortion came up and I remember after sharing my opinion my mother looked at me and said “how can you be so cold” I genuinely don’t no how to handle this I want to be true to myself but I also don’t want to lose the last friendships and close familial relationships I have left.
Struggling with grief
A few years ago one of my good friends committed suicide and since then I haven’t quite been the same. I myself attempted suicide during college and almost succeeded and now every time I think of my friend I have a mix of shame over what I almost did to my family and sadness that he’s not here anymore. I try to keep it to myself because I feel like I shouldn’t get so sad anymore about missing him, and my wife (got married in December!) tells me to not bottle it up as much as I do. I know you’ve been through a similar experience so I wanted some advice on how your journey has been
How To Avoid Getting Emotionally Attached In Romantic Relationships
Hi Brett, I wanted to ask your advice on how to avoid getting emotionally attached in romantic relationships? I am 25 years old, have never dated or been on a singular date, and my dream in life since I was 4 years old has been to be a stay at home wife and mother, like my mom. Sometimes it scares me to think when I start meeting men that interest me and dating I'll get emotionally attached too quickly if they check off some important boxes, but before we've left the talking stage, and really know each other. What helped you when dating Alex? I am willing to be get hurt by opening up and being vulnerable in what I want and believe, but what is the best way to keep myself from getting excited too quickly or letting my imagination run away with me? I don't want my dreams to cloud my judgement or miss red flags if we relate on some important issues, such as religion, lifestyle, family and health but before we have none each other long. Also, sometimes I fear men only telling me what I want to hear and hiding who they really care until it's too late. I have a co worker who that happened to and it ended in a messy divorce. Please help!
Tennessee based carnivore dr & wife (RN) you must interview
Hi Brett, I don't have a question but I do want to recommendation that you reach out to Dr. Ken Berry and his wife, Neisha, to interview. They live in TN and are not far from Nashville. His Youtube channel and the community they have built have changed my life and thousands of others. He's working hard to lift the veil off big food, big pharma, and big medicine, has a successful medical practice for over 20 years, and is raising a family on a homesteading farm. He has healed himself through the carnivore diet, as has his wife. As have I and literally thousands of people who've benefited from his no nonsense, tell it like it is, smart research and philosophy. His wife, Neisha, is an RN, who is absolutely adorable, and they are taking the food industry and medical world to task. I adore your show and your refreshing take on so many topics. I pray that God continues to bring blessings your way in whatever form that may be. His will is always way better for us than we think it will be. :) Faithful listener, Michelle Livin' the good life in Maine
Not really a question but… an interesting personal journey with sexuality.
Hello Brett! I just watched the episode about Denise Richards and OF’s. I think I have a unique experience with sexuality, exploitation and self realization. It has been an interesting road for me and my sexuality. I started out, basically from 0 to 18 years old being a “wet blanket” a “prude”. Things I was called by my peers and sometimes “friends”. Things were said to me in high school, after expressing I found a boy attractive, like “you wouldn’t know what to do with him”. I thought to myself at 16/17, “do what?” Or “should I”. It was difficult for me because I was PAINFULLY insecure and was so desperate for acceptance and sadly, attention, that I held on to the things that were said me. I thought I had to be sexual and sexy. Something I didn’t act on until my first year of college. Boy oh boy did things go down hill. It was a complete culture shock for me! I live in a small community and went to a local SUNY in Northern NY, a school that drew a lot of kids from up from NYC(which is great!). So I was suddenly around all different kinds of people who, drum roll please! Thought I was pretty! For me this was a HUGE discovery. Like, wow! Men are attracted to me? So with my new found “friends” and my new found “confidence” I went wild! Had my first kiss at 18. Had sex for the first time in the WORST way possible. So let the trauma begin. And the first time I was called a “slut”. But I was getting the attention I so desperately needed (so sad). So I leaned fully into this “slut” identity. I was also very obviously suffering from identity issues. Just a effing perfect storm of B.S. That turned me into a slut. Little me was suffering, my “true self” was pushed as far down as I could get her and I embraced my “fake identity”. Within a few years I had sex with 35 “men”. I was not having fun. I did not feel good. I hated myself!! I felt empty, misunderstood and lost. It was truly horrible. So, I stopped having sex to randoms got my first BF but STILL had a terrible relationship with sex and my body for years to come. I posted “thirst traps” on social media. And even nudes on a website(not OF). This of course evolved into an OF(wasn’t popular at the time). LUKILY I had opened TWO OF’s between ages 26 and 30, and never posted on the, because my gut instinct told me not to(thank god). At 30 after breaking up with a BF and having my last casual hookup I got an STD scare (all was good, thank god again). But I stopped dating, deleted ALL socials (kept YouTube), and haven’t had sex in 5 years. Now I have a more conservative view of sex. I’m conservative leaning in many other ways and live in a liberal household. So, to me that is a more uncommon experience. But I just wanted to share because it’s important for to world to understand all POV’s. People can change, and people make mistakes. I admire you and think you will find my 180 switch interesting. Enjoy!
Dating as an Assertive Woman
Hi Brett! I am college student studying Mechanical Engineering. I grew up being taught to be a strong and independent person, and so I am able to handle myself very confidently. I tend to be very loud and assertive, but looking back on my dating history I worry that attracts the wrong kind of man that I am not looking for. I want a man with conservative values who can help me feel more of a woman and strong in that way. I want the option to stay home with my children in the future, and be comfortable with someone so I can step into more feminine roles. Yet, it seems like to the outside appearance I always end up being the "dominant" one in the relationship. For some reason, my attitude attracts more liberal men that don't see me the way I want to be seen. I've been in multiple relationships where friends will comment about how they know I'm the one who wears the pants in the relationship, and I absolutely hate it every time someone says something like that. I'm now single and still worried about how to handle this in the future. This especially worries me when I am on a more liberal campus, UW Madison, and am in classes surrounded by introverted men. How do I stay true to myself and my own confidence while also finding a man who properly complements me instead of a man looking for a woman to be the assertive one?
College/life
Hey Brett, i just wanted to ask this question because this is been bothering me for a little while i’m trying to become a police officer and college i realized isn’t for me and im currently in a cross roads i don’t know if i should work the rest of the year and make decent money save up and then go to police academy or should i do right now the question i have is what do u do when u hit a cross roads? P.S love the videos and appreciate being the voice of gen z
Favorite Books/Stories
Hey Brett! You've talked about how much you love stories and the impact they've had on your life. You've experienced the impact they can have personally and also understand the impact they have on culture and our world. I'm a lover of stories myself. Classic and British literature were my favorite subjects in school (fellow homeschooler here 👋😅) and books/stories were always a part of my home going up. I still love reading and now get to participate in the sharing and creating of stories by working on film sets which I absolutely love. I would love to hear what some of your favorite stories are and what impact they may have had on you?
Taken advantage of
Hey Brett! Love your show, can’t wait to see you in Austin. I really want a girlfriend I start to feel lonely and I know I need to heal myself. I have a bad habit of giving girls money and getting used. How do I become happy being single and stop giving money to people who only want my money. Thank you for being an inspiration!